The Friends of Panola Mountain State Park is planning a “Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom” with a tentative opening for September. The group’s president, Joe Eifrid, is working with state parks officials to erect a plaque within the classroom in remembrance of his daughter and granddaughter, Tami and Jess Willadsen.
The two Willadsens died during a massive fire that consumed their Avondale Estates home on April 12, 2014. Tami, 43, was director of philanthropy for Nature Conservancy — Georgia, and 10-year-old Jess was a student at the Museum School.
Eifrid, who founded the Intown Ace Hardware store just outside Decatur in 1985, said the 1½-acre classroom will sit adjacent to the park’s nature center. Eifrid’s helping create several of the classroom’s nature-based learning stations, including a play area with natural and even recycled materials, a tunnel with vines growing over, a pollinator garden and a water feature comprised of a hand pump, water trough and dry stream bed.
So far $76,000 has been raised for the classroom.
Information: eifrid@bellsouth.net.
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