Open Lodge & Grounds Accessibility Project: Opening New Doors to Nature

A New Outdoor Gathering Space for All

When the Harris Center building was renovated in 2002 to better serve its use as an environmental education center, the beautiful Babbitt Room was created to host talks, gatherings, and other events. Since then, more and more people have found their way to the Harris Center.

Now, the Babbitt Room is too small for our most popular events. In the wake of a global pandemic that underscored the importance of airflow and crowding, it became clear that a large, open-air structure — with accompanying upgrades to improve the accessibility of our grounds — was essential. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the new Eleanor Briggs Open Lodge will soon provide space for events both large and small, surrounded by fresh air and intimately connected to the natural world.

A site plan showing an aerial view of the new Open Lodge in relation to the existing Harris Center building, with paths between the two.

The Open Lodge is being built in what is currently the lower parking lot near the pollinator garden and stone patio. It includes three adjacent accessible parking spaces and two accessible unisex restrooms with composting toilets for hikers and visitors. The Lodge itself will accommodate 250 people in roughly 3,000 square feet of space and can be configured for a wide range of programs and events, including lectures, summer camps, musical and theatrical performances, weddings, memorial services, and other gatherings.

The project also incorporates new pathways, an expanded deck, and thoughtfully designed hardscaping and native landscaping, making it easier for visitors with walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers to explore the grounds. Once completed, the Open Lodge will be an essential gathering space that is flexible, beautiful, restorative, fun, and accessible, while also butterfly-, bee-, and bird-friendly.

Landscaping improvements and construction began in the spring of 2025 and will continue throughout the year. If you’d like to donate to help us raise the last 10% of funds needed to complete the project, see details below or visit our donate page.

A rendering of the Open Lodge and revitalized grounds, as viewed from the Harris Center building.

A rendering of the interior of the Open Lodge.

Architectural drawings of the Open Lodge building.

Three seating options for learning, gathering, and celebrating inside the Open Lodge structure.