By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
This fall, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center completed a pair of new features outside of their facility, just northeast of Great Bend. The Melody Marsh includes five outdoor, nature-themed musical instruments to welcome visitors.
The other piece includes a kiosk, near the parking lot, that helps travelers. KWEC Director Curtis Wolf said the kiosk consists of a large map of Cheyenne Bottoms and a panel of brochures. Along with wetlands-related brochures, the Great Bend Visitors Guide is available for travelers.
"We go through a lot of brochures inside, but we wanted to have them available when people come through in the evenings or when we're not open," said Wolf. "I'm really pleased with how it turned out."
Funds for the KWEC projects came from the Dorothy Morrison Foundation.
The Percussion Play instruments include cattail chimes, bongo drums, flowers with bells, and a Cyclone - a wheel with marbles that sounds like rain when turned. The area, which is near the pollinator garden, also has artificial turf for easy access.