The new park structure supports the nature center's mission “to conserve the natural world through hands-on environmental and conservation education.” Conservation and sustainability go hand in hand, and with this in mind, the shade pavilion was designed and constructed almost entirely of repurposed materials, including retired utility poles from the local power company, aluminum street signs from surrounding municipalities, and limestone seating from renovations at a football stadium. The pavilion will host camps, movies in the park, weddings, educational programming, and more.  

The nature center is named for the native prairie landscape that surrounds the center’s main facility and animal sanctuary. This remnant prairie is one of the last unaltered prairie landscapes in the region and a unique example of an upland prairie ecosystem preserved alongside the educational programming at the park. Recent threats to close the center due to budget shortages prompted a community outpouring of support that has prioritized keeping the doors open and community programming accessible.   

The new pavilion resulted from a collaboration between academic program and city agency, with the goal to extend the functionality of the nature center to generate additional revenue and create a more sustainable economic model for the non-profit nature center. Furthermore, the project not only represents a sustainable architectural project but a more sustainable model for public amenity development that relies on experiential learning to deliver park and community assets.