After nearly 22 years, the Butterfly Pavilion could be moving from its home in Westminster to Broomfield as part of the new Applied Research and Science Park.
According to The Know (The Denver Post), the Butterfly Pavilion could be changing its place of residency from Westminster to Broomfield. Not only will the pavilion be potentially moving, but its affiliate, the Center for Invertebrate Research and Conservation (CIRC), will be relocating, too. It is not known when, or even if, the move is happening but it certainly isn’t off the table.
Broomfield officials say that CIRC wants to achieve “global change through innovative and integral programs that advance the knowledge and capacity of invertebrate research efforts while advancing invertebrate conservation work around the world.”
For this move to work and sustain, there would need to be plans drawn up for expansion:
- A lab and research space that supports the critical work conducted by the pavilion’s science team.
- A state-of-the-art facility that is able to present information to the general public and engage them at the same time.
The Know stated that Broomfield agreed to pay $75,000 in order to help pay for the schematic plans for a joint-use project, which would not only benefit the city of Broomfield but the pavilion and the Adams 12 Five Star School District as well, as they would be part of the new Applied Research and Science Park at North Park.
Mayor pro tem Greg Stokes told The Know that Broomfield is continuing “to look for ways to get North Park started, this is one of the best ideas I’ve seen.” He also mentioned that this is an opportunity to make the city of Broomfield “stand out among the cities.”
The Butterfly Pavilion first opened its doors in July 1995 and was the first stand-alone non-profit insect zoo in the entire country. Over 5,000 animals call the pavilion their home, including over 1,500 butterflies and an entire underwater world of sea creatures. Every year the Butterfly Pavilion sees more than 300,000 guests.
Have you been to the Butterfly Pavilion? What was your favorite part? Also, what are your thoughts on the pavilion potentially moving to Broomfield? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!
All images courtesy of the Butterfly Pavilion's Facebook page.
