Friends of Oxbow reaches $1M fundraising goal

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Friends of Oxbow (FOX) has reached its $1 million fundraising goal for the nature center at Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo. This funding marks the final step for the new facility, which opened in May 2023.

“We are grateful to Friends of Oxbow for their remarkable generosity and steadfast commitment to the success of Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo,” said Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Chair Sheila Kiscaden. “This achievement reflects their strong commitment to our collective interest in fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature.”

The FOX is a non-profit community organization dedicated to supporting Olmsted County’s Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo and upholding natural spaces and sustainable recreational and educational resources in the community.

“The generous support from donors has enabled our community to come together and celebrate the natural world we all share,” stated FOX President Seanne Buckwalter. “This fundraising milestone demonstrates the support and dedication of both Friends of Oxbow and our community,” said Olmsted County Parks Director Karlin Ziegler. “We are thrilled to see this goal met.”

The nature center at Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo provides opportunities for environmental education, conservation, and community engagement in a large space with cutting-edge amenities. Its goal is to help visitors connect with the natural world and become environmental stewards.

In addition to donations raised by FOX, a Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Legacy grant and federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act helped to fund the nature center project.

Visitors will notice landscaping work around the new nature center and the zoo’s entrance this spring, creating a more welcoming environment that fits with the center’s natural surroundings.

The Zollman Zoo and Nature Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Oxbow Park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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