Quogue Wildlife Refuge lands $1.2 million state grant for upgrades

A fundraising campaign to expand and upgrade educational facilities at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge has gotten a boost from a $1.2 million state grant.

The grant, announced last week, puts the organization close to the goal of its $4.95 million capital campaign to expand its nature center, renovate an older building into an educational center and make its programming more accessible to the public, executive director Michael Nelson said in a phone interview.

Nelson said he is “very excited” about receiving the grant. "It's investing in the future with Quogue Wildlife Refuge,” he said.

The nonprofit stewards the 305-acre preserve, operates educational programs for schools and the public, and cares for injured animals that can’t be released back into the wild. Located in the pine barrens near Gabreski Airport, the refuge's trails are open to the public for free year-round.

The project includes the expansion and renovation of the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center while preserving its “historic charm,” Nelson said. A second story will be added — nearly doubling the building’s space — allowing for more nature exhibits and workspace for its employees. The project also will make the building more energy efficient, he said. An older building on the refuge will be renovated and turned into the Nature Discovery Cottage, a dedicated space for educational programing that will allow the nature center to remain open while school groups are visiting, Nelson said. The parking area also will be redesigned to make it safer for visiting school groups, and a new environmentally friendly septic system will be installed on the property, he added.

With the state grant, the refuge has raised $4.6 million of its $4.95 million goal for the “Preserve, Educate and Inspire” campaign. More than half of the funds have been raised through private contributions.

"This is our first — and biggest — funding drive that we've embarked on, and we know it's for a great cause, and people seem to jump on board with that,” Nelson added.

He said the refuge hopes to break ground on the project next year, with an estimated completion date in fall 2027.

The nonprofit was one of 12 education centers statewide — and the only one on Long Island — to receive the grant, which was awarded through a state program targeting environmental justice and disadvantaged communities.

State officials announced more than $12.6 million in awards in a news release, noting the funding takes on “added significance in the wake of federal cuts to environmental justice programs.”