Coalition breaks ground on Marion Field Operations Facility
If you’ve driven along Route 6 in Marion recently, you may have noticed something new happening at the corner of Spring Street. That’s where the Coalition has broken ground on our newest permanent facility: a field operations center that will serve as a centerpiece for all our environmental science and land stewardship work.
The Coalition’s new facility will support our diverse field operations and help improve and beautify Marion’s “front door” along Route 6.
Over the course of a generation, the Coalition has grown to become our region’s leader in land and water conservation. We’ve protected more than 8,000 acres of land, monitor 215 water quality stations throughout Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, and host thousands of people each year at outdoor exploration programs. All of this work requires equipment, from boats and buoys to mowers and waders.
The Marion Field Operations Facility is a deep investment in the long-term success of the Coalition and the town of Marion. The facility will support our diverse field operations – from water quality monitoring to land stewardship to outdoor exploration – and help improve and beautify Marion’s “front door” along Route 6.
On the water, the Marion Field Operations Facility will support our 26-year-old Baywatchers water quality monitoring program and our vessel, the R/V Buzzards Baykeeper®, as they collect and analyze data from locations from Sakonnet Point to Woods Hole. With the opening of this facility, Marion will become the hub for scientific data collection for all of Buzzards Bay.
On the land, the Marion facility will support our commitment to keep our public reserves in Acushnet, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and Wareham well cared for. These protected lands are all located within eight miles of Marion, making it an ideal launching point for daily land management.
An exceptional design, engineering, and project management team will oversee this two-building complex. Renowned Falmouth-based Hutker Architects are joining Marion’s own CLE Engineering and Lars Olson to bring quality design and construction to one of the town’s most prominent intersections. Construction is by The Valle Group of Falmouth.
The Coalition hopes to move into the Marion Field Operations Facility in late 2018. Fundraising is ongoing to raise the $2.3 million needed to complete the project.