THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506020297
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast broke ground last week for its new regional program center off Cedar Road.
``So many of you and so many others have helped us reach this point,'' Rowena Fullinwider, the council's capital campaign chair, told officials gathered for Wednesday's ceremony. ``What we're doing here today is building on the future. Our girls are the future.''
The council has polled Girl Scouts in the region to ask for suggestions for a name for the new facility. They Scouts decided the center will be called ``A Place for Girls.''
The center will serve nearly 16,000 girls in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. The council purchased the 11-acre parcel off Cedar Road in 1989.
``We were looking for easy access to Interstate-64,'' said Patricia McKinney, the council's assistant director for development.
The council plans to keep much of the 11 acres in a natural state, so Scouts will have a place to picnic and observe the wetlands. An observation tower will be built on the property to allow the scouts to observe areas inaccessible by foot.
In addition, a main building will house meeting rooms and rooms for overnight stays. Other features will include an enclosed swimming pool, a nature trail, a Japanese bridge over Bell's Mill Creek, picnic shelters, a canoe dock and a fitness trail and exercise stations.
``If all goes well, we could be in there by Christmas,'' said McKinney. The cost of the effort is estimated at $2.2 million.
The Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast is continuing to accept donations for the center. More information is available by calling Patricia McKinney, assistant executive director, at 486-9737. by CNB