The Great Plains Nature Center is one of Wichita's top visited attractions, with more than 208,000 people visiting the center in 2017. Started as a unique partnership among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism and the city of Wichita in 1996, the visitor center opened in 2000. This year the GPNC enlisted the help of the PPMC to form a strategic plan that will guide future policy, programming and facility priorities and decisions. The comprehensive plan was developed with input from key stakeholders including building visitors, volunteers, trail users, former and current staff and Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center board and other individuals.
Four strategic goals will be implemented over the next five years, with an emphasis in the following areas:
1.Provide a new and enhanced, hands-on educational experience to increase conservation comprehension and action;
2. Improve partnerships with current partners, volunteers and members, as well as look at new sources and outlets to increase numbers in these areas;
3. Improve and modernize facilities; and
4. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan.
In November, GPNC director Marc Murrell was interviewed for a KNSS podcast in which he talked about the nature center and its plans.
