BIG Idea:
EcoEducation Center & Butterfly House
in Phoenix OR
What if there was a “campus”, with a butterfly house, large native plant demonstration gardens with interpretive signage, and an indoor-outdoor educational center, built for and with community members, students of all ages, and with agency and governmental support? A place that would attract both tourists and locals wanting to interact with our native ecosystem while learning how to help save the butterflies - and all the other native pollinators.
Southern Oregon is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the country.
A learning and exhibit space to bring beauty, plants, pollinators, fish, birds, and
more into a city setting would be amazing for both the short and long term! ​
​
Click here to watch our interview on KDRV Channel 12 on November 11.
Read the story on their website here.​
​
Listen here to learn the latest about this Big Idea from Kristina on JPR's Jefferson Exchange on November 19!
​
We think this project - along Bear Creek Drive at 4th St. in Phoenix, adjacent to the 16-Spring Miracle Mile, the Greenway, Bear Creek, the Civic Center, and the downtown business district - is a brilliant way of linking together the features to make the City of Phoenix special and desirable. This is a perfect opportunity for City leaders to invest in the future, to create a place for young people to grow in and learn about the natural world in close proximity to where they live and work. ​​​​
Help us make this vision happen!
​​​We still need your support! The third and final meeting with the Advisory Committee is on Thursday, 12/4, at 4p at the Phoenix Civic Center. (below is a recap from the first two meetings)
​
Here are four ways to support PPRV, a Butterfly House, and the Community:
1. Please be present at the 4p meeting on 12/4! This is our last chance to impress upon the City that Southern Oregon wants this project to happen! Please wear a shirt highlighting your business, the environment, or education!
2. Send a letter of support! We have received over 125 letters to date, including one from Sen. Jeff Golden (below). A template of a letter is provided here for you to copy and paste, but please feel free to use your own words. Email your letter of support to Pollinator@PollinatorProjectRogueValley.org.
3. If you are on social media, find our posts on Instagram and/or Facebook, and make a comment to express your enthusiasm for this idea.
4. Please share!​
Enjoy these wonderful "letters of support" from students at the MELS Academy and the Bridge House Collective!
Thank you, Steve Wise, Executive Director of Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, for your amazing letter of support!
"The EcoEducation Center and Butterfly House proposed by PPRV is a prime example of an innovative project that will illustrate the need for environmental stewardship in our region, while also providing visitors with tangible actions they can take to care for the land and its many inhabitants.
The proposed Phoenix Springs Nature Complex, including PPRV’s educational center, will also position Phoenix as a leader in community-centered conservation – the practice of using land conservation efforts as a catalyst for the restoration of ecological and social-cultural landscapes alike. This relationship-based approach, which is emerging nationally as a crucial component of the future of ....." (keep reading here)
Here's what's happened so far!
On Thursday, November 20, PPRV delivered our Letter of Intent to the Advisory Committee of the Phoenix Urban Renewal Agency (PHURAC) with additonal information per their request at the November 6 meeting. Click here to read it, plus 25 more letters of support! Thank you to the 30+ people who attended in person, plus another ~10 on zoom! Click here to view the video of the PHURAC meeting on the City of Phoenix website.
On November 6, 2025, PPRV presented our proposal to the Phoenix Urban Renewal Agency Advisory Committee about our vision for the property along Bear Creek Drive at 4th Street in Phoenix, adjacent to the 16-Spring Miracle Mile, the Greenway, Bear Creek, the Civic Center, and the downtown business district.
During our presentation, we submitted 75 letters of letter of support in paper form, including from Sen. Jeff Golden, ScienceWorks, Talent Maker City, Armadillo Community Charter School, and others. Plus we have received incredible support from the community via our Facebook and Instagram pages! Our presentation is here and letters are here. ​​​​​
​​
Not only is this an important project in its own right, this property is a key component of a larger project called the Phoenix Springs Nature Complex (see below).
​​​​
What benefits would this project bring to Southern Oregon?
-
Keystone to the Phoenix Springs Nature Complex, with educational opportunities, art, nature exhibits, and events.
-
Encourages physical activity, engagement with nature, community involvement, volunteerism, and civic pride.
-
Provides knowledge base and resources for community members, students, teachers, environmental professionals, and community partners.​​
-
Central location is accessible for community partners, tours, self-directed visits, events, and workshops.
-
Provides diverse array of learning and engagement opportunities for students of all ages, developed and supported by scientists and subject-matter professionals.
-
Provides employment for community members and high school students.
-
Beautifies the region by supporting residents and businesses in planting pollinator gardens.
​
What benefits would this project bring to Phoenix?
-
Strengthens Phoenix's goal to be a sustainable, creative, family-oriented, active community.
-
Showcases Phoenix as long-term destination for families, education, nature-based activities, and tourism, increasing foot traffic to businesses in the heart of the city
-
Demonstrate the City’s commitment to sustainability and restoration of native habitats.
See our presentation here and read the letters here. ​​​​
Thank you, Senator Golden, for your wonderful letter to the Phoenix Urban Renewal Advisory Commitee!
Thank you for your support!
​
Pollinator Project Rogue Valley is an Oregon-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
We envision communities and landscapes working together, supporting diverse ecosystems rich with native plants and thriving native pollinators.
We inspire, engage, and educate about the ecological importance of native pollinator species and the diverse native plant communities essential for their survival. We are committed to the creation and restoration of pesticide-free pollinator corridors throughout the Rogue Valley.