Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum has announced plans to build a “canopy walkway” in honor of its 50th anniversary this year.
The project is being created in partnership with Meg Lowman, a world renown pioneer in canopy research. Also known as “Canopy Meg,” Lowman was born and attended school in Elmira before launching an impressive career that has taken her around the world to study canopy ecosystems and design similar walkways.
The canopy project has long been a dream of Tanglewood’s Executive Director, Elaine Smith. “This idea has been sort of hatching for the last 18 years at Tanglewood because I started, with the help of some other people, a camp for girls aged 9 to 12 who are interested in science, and it’s called the Meg Lowman Treetops Camp.”
The project calls for towers 60 to 80 feet high, connected by walkways up to 300 feet long. It would be only the second canopy walkway in New York State. Smith says the other one is about five hours away in the Adirondacks. She also pointed out that beyond the educational benefits, the walkway will create a unique outdoor recreational opportunity for all ages and serve as regional tourism draw.
Fundraising is underway for the $3 million project. After it has been secured, the hope is to break ground on the project in the middle of 2024, and have the walkway open in early 2025.