By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
Florence City Officials were joined by residents and community stakeholders Oct. 22, at a ribbon cutting and cocktail reception to celebrate the new Event Center at Florence Nature Park.
Florence Mayor Diane Whalen, center, with scissors, is joined by City officials to cut the ribbon on the new Event Center at Florence Nature Park (photos by Mark Hansel).
This versatile Event Center, which meets a demand in the community, features lofty ceilings, a stone facade and a craftsman Kentucky feel.
Florence Mayor Diane Whalen thanked those in attendance for helping the City celebrate the Event Center opening.
“This is very special to us,” Whalen said. “While I can identify a vision and we can provide the funding to make things happen, without the support of our city council, nothing happens in this city.
Located within the heart of the Florence Nature Park, the event center is surrounded by soaring trees and wildlife.
“We hope that you agree with us when we say this facility is state-of-the-art,” said Florence Director of Public Services Eric Hall. “We just feel this will allow the City of Florence to create some special moments in the lives of our customers.”
The unique nature setting will offer guests a venue capable of hosting weddings, social events, award ceremonies, team building exercises, corporate gatherings and more.
The ribbon-cutting for the Event Center at Florence Nature Park was followed by a cocktail reception.
Hall credits Whalen for her vision and for championing the construction of the venue.
“As you know every project has a starting point,” Hall said. “The starting point for this project happened approximately two years ago when Mayor Whalen identified a need in our community. That need was a facility that could serve a group or an event to medium, or average size.”
The Event Center will accommodate:
-134 guests for a seated corporate event
-100 guests for a seated wedding event
-134 guests for a seated outdoor lawn corporate or wedding event (tent not included)
-118 parking lot spaces
The City was not satisfied just to construct a building that would fill basic needs.
“It also needed to create an experience and it needed to be in a (scenic) location,” Hall said. “The Nature Park immediately came to mind. We put if before our city council, which immediately came on board which allowed us to get into planning and bring this all to life.”
Council Members Dr. Julie Metzger Aubuchon, Gary Winn, Duane Froelicher, David A. Osborne, Kelly Huff and Mel Carroll voted unanimously to support the project.
The Event Center is the second phase of a Nature Center project that is now complete.
Phase I consisted of remodeling the existing Evelyn M. Kalb Gathering House by making site improvements to the property.
The interior of the Gathering House included a new wood beam ceiling, tile flooring, windows, relocated and renovated bathrooms, and an expanded and remodeled kitchen area.
The exterior included a new deck, roof, siding, sidewalks reconstruction of exterior bathrooms and landscaping.
“We have been blessed to have a group of city council people who have the same shared vision, the same shared commitment to the city and the same dedication to making sure things are done right, done well, and done first class,” Whalen said.
The price tag for the Event Center was $2.2 million which included infrastructure upgrades.
The City will make an announcement in the near future of a date that the Event Center is ready to begin accepting reservations.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
