Santa Ysabel Nature Center

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation owns and manages the Santa Ysabel Preserve and nearby Volcan Mountain Preserves, which contain rolling hills of oak woodlands and native grasslands. On Dec. 14, 2020, the Parks department opened the Santa Ysabel Nature Center, a 6,000-square-foot LEED Gold and Zero Net Energy facility that serves visitors and backcountry nature enthusiasts who wish to learn about the ecology and natural history of the area. The building includes a large space for interpretive and educational exhibits; a conference room capable of accommodating weddings and events up to 100 people, and an information area. The exhibit space includes state-of-the-art interpretive and educational elements. Indoor and outdoor exhibits are designed to concentrate on the natural world, showcasing the unique ecology and history of the surrounding environment. Outdoors, the project connects visitors to nature through outdoor educational opportunities including an interpretive trail, amphitheater, and nature-based play area. The Nature Center is a regional destination with educational exhibits, interpretation and information on the surrounding lands, and as a staging area for nearby trails in the Santa Ysabel Preserve. The Nature Center is the first of its kind in rural San Diego County.