THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 22, 1995 TAG: 9506200120
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
The structure was once a concession stand in Lafayette Park. But if plans go as scheduled, the site will be the hub of Norfolk's environmental operations by fall 1996.
A design sketch of the Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center was unveiled June 14 in the park. After renovations, the 1,700-square-foot building will be the new home for the Norfolk Environmental Commission, the agency that supervises most of the city's environmental projects.
More than 125 people turned out for the unveiling, including city leaders, a color guard from the Norfolk Naval Base, and dozens of friends and associates of the late Ernie Morgan.
``Ernie is up there in the clouds smiling on us,'' said Julian Hirst, a former city manager who gave the invocation.
Morgan, who died last year at age 80, was a well-known community activist and founding member of the Norfolk Clean Community System, predecessor of the Norfolk Environmental Commission.
The center will feature a library, interactive exhibits, meeting rooms and access to the Internet. The estimated $100,000 in renovation costs will be funded primarily by private donations, with some government grants possible, city officials said. City Council is expected to approve the project in the near future.
The facility is one of the NEC's most important projects, commission chairman Conrad Greif said. Operations currently are located in a two-room office in City Hall.
``By the zoo will be a perfect location,'' Mayor Paul D. Fraim said. ``... it will raise public awareness of the commission and all it does.''
Part of the center's mission will be to follow Morgan's philosophy of spearheading community involvement, said John Deuel, the NEC executive coordinator.
``Morgan believed that every citizen has an obligation to put something back into the community,'' Deuel said. ``We don't just want this to be a place for people to learn about the environment but a place people can find ways to go out and help. We want to build a sense of individual stewardship. The center will be a clearinghouse of information and direction.''
The unveiling was followed by the commission's annual awards ceremony, when local groups are recognized for outstanding achievement in environmental projects. Plaques were presented to organizations ranging from government agencies to educational institutions. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to several other groups.
``We look for efforts in litter control, recycling projects, all kinds of environmental outreach programs,'' said Gwen Hawkins, the NEC's assistant executive coordinator.
More than 20,000 local volunteers took part in cleanups and recycling programs last year. Tidewater Regional Transit, which took top honors in the government agency category, recycled 31,000 quarts of oil. Maury High School's ``Phoenix Rising'' environmental club received a plaque for raising $1,000 for both the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Southeastern Association for Virginia's Environment.
Working with other conservation groups is vital to bettering the environment.
``We're not the end-all for all the problems,'' Deuel said, ``but we will be referring people to places where they can get the answers and opportunities to make a difference.''
Council in January formally changed the name of the Norfolk Clean Community System to the Norfolk Environmental Commission because the scope of the organization has been broadened. In addition to litter cleanup, beauti-fication and recycling, the NEC is addressing an expanded roster of land-, air- and water-quality issues.
``We sensed a real public interest in all areas concerning the environment,'' Deuel said. ``The approach we use when dealing with an issue is to first get citizen input, then talk to government and private industry, and then work out a strategy to get citizens involved.''
The state's ``Adopt A Spot'' campaign, where an organization cleans up a public site at least four times a year and then receives an on-location sign of recognition, has been a popular program. Maury's environmental club adopted a section of wetlands off Colley Avenue between 47th and 52nd streets.
The commission's future home in the park will help spark public involvement, Deuel said, noting that the present City Hall site is ``not very accessible to the public.''
``The zoo is a popular public attraction and has a theme of world ecology education and habitat preservation,'' he explained. ``Zoo visitors can get excited about what they've seen and learned, and then go out and do something about the mess we're in.''
When completed, the center will be run by Deuel, Hawkins and a small staff, including volunteers. Practicing what they preach, part of the structure's walls will be built with earth and old tires, an architectural technique new to Hampton Roads, Deuel said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
The Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center, to open in the fall of
'96, will be the new home for the Norfolk Environmental Commission.
by CNB