President’s Message
Spring 2026
by Jordan Oster

Since storm damage forced the closure of the Visitor Center in the summer of 2024, supporters of the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge have waited patiently, and sometimes not as patiently, for news of when the doors would open to the public once again. Fall of 2028 is now the anticipated timeline for the completion of construction and for the building to reopen. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently released a draft compatibility determination to propose and collect comments on how the Refuge will continue with its offerings of environmental education and interpretation on-site once the Visitor Center is repaired. Top of mind for many has been what will the building renovation look like and if it will change how people use the space. As the designs currently propose, the Visitor Center’s indoor footprint would be reduced in size, including the exhibit area and indoor classroom space. There are likely to be some who are hesitant about this idea, understandably so given the impact these spaces have had on many over decades.

This reimagined area and visitor experience would look different but it is also a reminder that the building ultimately serves as a launching point for our outdoor experiences. Among the exciting new features would be a shelter area to the east of the center that will also serve as an outdoor classroom, alongside a new learning garden and oak savanna planting. Fortunately, the Friends of Neal Smith will be able to resume operation of the nature store and restore the source of income and interaction that we had long relied on before the closure. We’re grateful to the Refuge staff as they’ve endured the initial closure, the wait, the planning and soon, the construction! The wait isn’t over but the anticipation is now different. We’re excited for the day when we can again help welcome friends new and old to the redesigned Visitor Center. In the meantime, I call on you to continue supporting the Friends group so we can approach that day in a strong position to capitalize on the renewed interest that will surely come with the reopening.

Milky Way Over the Prairie, Patty Foster