Bill Flynn, executive director of the New Canaan Nature Center, briefed the Town Council on Nov. 19 about recent conservation projects, program activity and preliminary capital plans, and said the center had received a private $200,000 grant toward a proposed greenhouse project.

Flynn said the nature center’s combined revenue last year was “about 2 point just over 2,300,000.0,” and described program mixes: 141 preschool students (about 86% New Canaan residents) and a large summer-camp program (the transcript noted attendance figures). He outlined completed and ongoing work including the Kiwanis Pond dredge, removal of invasive phragmites, improvements to the rock-house collection, and assessments for the education building and Herb Cottage.

On capital planning, Flynn described a proposed new greenhouse next to the Herb Cottage and a separate plan for the larger 1982 greenhouse near the parking lot. He said the nature center won a private foundation grant of $200,000 “about 4 months ago” to fund greenhouse work, and that the center has additional reserves and fundraising capacity; Flynn said, “So we are not asking town for participation,” but invited the council to help with municipal building-code items such as bathroom upgrades that would allow the education building to be reconfigured into classrooms.

Flynn outlined preliminary cost figures mentioned in the meeting: the Herb Cottage assessment identified roughly $100,000 in work to shore up the building (with about $30,000 for rotten wood and painting). He also noted the 1982 greenhouse retrofit estimate had previously been about $1,000,000 to make it fully usable, which is why the center prefers building a smaller new greenhouse nearer the herb cottage.

Council members asked about program use (children in the greenhouse, rental potential, kitchen/plating facilities) and site orientation; Flynn encouraged members to visit the property for a site tour. He said the center plans a capital campaign and feasibility study before any town-requested appropriations, and would return with finalized figures when available.

Next steps: the nature center will coordinate site visits for council members and return with refined cost estimates and formal capital-campaign plans when ready.