Here’s a sneak peek of Mote’s new education center opening on Anna Maria Island pier
After more than two years of planning and preparation, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium opens its Anna Maria outreach and education center this week.
When the doors swing open to the public on Friday, visitors will be able to experience learning that is interactive, creative and fun.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, a driving force behind bringing Mote to a 1,900-square-foot space at the end of the Anna Maria City Pier, 103 Bay Blvd., was treated to a sneak peek on Tuesday.
“It’s a dream come true. You’ve done a tremendous job. I’m overwhelmed by it,” Murphy told Mote staff members.
Special touches
Evan Barniskis, Mote associate vice president, said that Samantha Bledstein, Mote’s senior exhibits coordinator, designed the center.
She brought light touches and attention to detail that visitors will appreciate in the touch tank, child’s fishing experience (with magnetic fish cutouts), turtle crawl (with model reptiles), mangrove exhibit and manatee exhibit.
That light touches also extend to the windows overlooking Tampa Bay, which are illustrated with images of Gulf of Mexico sea life.
Sure to get lots of attention from children and older people, too, is the interactive coloring exhibit. Visitors can color a sea creature using a digital display, or color an image on paper which is then scanned and fed onto a large TV screen complete with the artist’s name.
Another interactive feature worth a listen is the sound exhibit. Among them are the croaking sounds of the oyster toadfish or the impressive roar of the black grouper.
There is also an exhibit that offers microscopic view of sharks teeth or other organic matter.
“It’s not just for children. There is a lot here for everyone to see,” said Robert Kingan, Anna Maria city commissioner.
Everything in the center is new and will be continually updated, Barniskis said.
“Every time you visit, we hope you will see something new,” he said. “We are very thrilled to open Friday.”
First there was a hurricane
The Anna Maria City Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The pier was rebuilt at a cost of $6.8 million and reopened in June 2020. But it was not immediately clear what might eventually move into the space at the end of the pier.
The City of Anna Maria unsuccessfully negotiated with several restaurant operators to put an eatery there.
After those talks failed, city and Mote Marine officials entered talks about converting the unfinished building shell into a marine educational outreach center that would be open to the public.
“Mote is learning about the environment and the ecosystem. It becomes knowledge vs. hamburgers,” Murphy said.
Why should the city be in the commercial leasing business, when it can put its space to use as a learning and research center, Murphy said in 2021.
Anna Maria city commissioners voted 4-1 to pursue the idea of opening an outreach facility .
The Manatee County Commission approved a request in 2021 for $500,000 in tourist bed tax funds for design and installation of the learning center.
The annual cost to operate the center was projected at $444,134, with $337,967 coming in-kind from Mote Marine. The rest of the budget would come from retail sales, education programs, and donations. The city of Anna Maria would pick up the cost of utilities, estimated at $9,500 a year.
To date, about 20 citizens have volunteered their time to assist at the outreach facility.
The opening
A ribbon cutting and a brief ceremony will be held at the entrance to the Anna Maria City Pier at 10 a.m. Friday, May 5.
The center will then be open to visitors. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. There is no admission charge.
This story was originally published May 4, 2023 at 5:50 AM.
