HomeMy WebLinkAboutFeiro Marine Discovery Center Letter of Support_Port Angeles City Council JS.docx
February 13, 2023
Feiro Marine Life Center
P.O. Box 625
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Re: Marine Discovery Center Project Letter of Support
Dear Feiro Marine Life Center Board of Directors,
Please accept this letter of support for the Marine Discovery Center project, a public/private
collaboration between Feiro Marine Life Center and NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine
Sanctuary. Both Feiro and the Sanctuary have a long history in the community (since 1981 and 1994,
respectively) of science education and fostering ocean stewardship.
The Marine Discovery Center (working title) will be a joint education and visitor center located on
the Port Angeles Waterfront Center campus. Inspired by the waters that unite us, this new facility will
also be a new point of confluence – drawing people together in community with each other and the
natural environment that connects us all – from Port Angeles and the outer coast to our neighbors
across the waters. The new center will increase educational capacity on the Olympic Peninsula for
marine science education, drive regional economic development and tourism, and provide much
needed new public exhibits for the Feiro Marine Life Center and Olympic Coast National Marine
Sanctuary, as well as galvanize the community to participate in marine stewardship. Conceptual
design and feasibility studies are complete, suggesting a conservative visitation of over 75,000 people
annually in a 13,000 square foot facility.
Beginning in the early 1970s, the community of Port Angeles worked to build a teaching laboratory
and public aquarium on the then new City Pier. Feiro Marine Life Center connects community and
environment by providing local marine and watershed learning experiences and increasing awareness
of how closely connected and interdependent we are. The lab was dedicated on November 21, 1981.
We are proud to be champions for the Marine Discovery Center and are excited for this new amenity
for the Pacific Northwest region to take shape. The City of Port Angeles values this addition to our
downtown. On January 18, 2023, our City Council unanimously voted in support to include the
Marine Discovery Center on our list of 2023 Legislative Priorities. Thank you for this important
opportunity for the City of Port Angeles to provide input on this important project.
Sincerely,
Kate Dexter
Mayor
321 East Fifth Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
DocuSign Envelope ID: 05D01A19-E8A2-4DB9-BCFC-1B7701627DAC