The Marsh Filtration exhibit is a project where the Wonder Gardens staff has started to take an outdated older exhibit and to modify it and make it more meaningful to the visitors. The diagram below and the image on the right show how this can be taken several steps further on a modest budget but will most likely need some design drawings and a general contractor to do the work.
Visitor viewing should be improved by removing sections of the block barrier and replaced with sections of viewing glass. The beach area used by the animals has been increased in size and the visitor path has been shifted to provide better visitor viewing area.
As a separate project, adjacent to the viewing area, the Wonder Gardens can install on a small scale a hands-on filtration demonstration area where the visitors can pump water through a filter area and actually see how the system works. Not many of the youngest visitors will read the signs provided, but if they can participate and have fun pumping water, they will gain an understanding how plants can act as a natural filter. There are numerous opportunities around the Wonder Gardens to make small adjustments to existing exhibits, improve graphics, create hands on play opportunities as “low hanging fruit” projects.
