February 27, Wayne County Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and partners unveiled schematic plan drawings for the visitor center to be built at the Refuge Gateway in Trenton, Michigan.  In 2005, Wayne County Parks completed a Master Plan for the Refuge Gateway.  The schematic phase includes more detailed work on architecture and engineering.  Hamilton Anderson Associates, who performed the work, presented an overview of all schematic plans and drawings.  DTE Energy Foundation provided funding for this work.

The Refuge Gateway will include a visitor center, trails, wildlife viewing stations, natural prairie gardens, a kayak landing, a fishing pier, and more.  The Refuge Gateway is located adjacent to Humbug Marsh and will provide outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities.  Partners in the visitor center will include Wayne County Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wayne County Community College, International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Friends of the Detroit River, Detroit Audubon, and Michigan Sea Grant. 

“Wayne County is proud of providing leadership in designing and building a green visitor center for North America’s only International Wildlife Refuge,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. “Everything you see and do at this Refuge Gateway will teach sustainability and this public building will become a model for our Nation.”

The Refuge Gateway project has been described as a transformational project for our region in that it will be a model of green architectural design that saves energy and promotes sustainability.