It is set to be a memorable 2025 for the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach with several big plans on the schedule for the horizon.
The plans include update to the facility itself with a plan to make parking automated and renovation of the exhibit hall on site, as well as the celebration of the reserve’s 25th anniversary.
The parking will be the first aspect of the updates that will be completed.
According to Dale Viger, executive director of Friends of the GTM, the switch to make the parking process automated has already started with the implementation in certain aspects, but it is expected to be fully functioning sometime in early March.
Once the parking process is in place, visitors will have the option to pay by either receiving a text code or by QR code on their phone.
She said that the reason for the parking change is to just continue and make sure that the reserve is making the proper updates are made to keep up with the times and the continued advances in technology that make it more convenient for visitors.
“This day in age, people just don’t have cash on them like they did in the past, so we wanted to make sure to consider that,” Viger said.
The exhibit hall renovation is one that will take more time to make happen compared to the parking, and it is in the “very early stages.”
The current design of the exhibit hall is about 20 years old.
“We want to make sure we’re doing our part to bring everything up to date,” Viger said. “We look forward to your support in this transformative effort.”
According to Viger, late spring or early summer is the hopeful time to begin the fundraiser campaign for the hall’s renovation.
Finally, the GTM Reserve is celebrating 25 years On May 8 with a silver-studded celebration at Pesca by Michael at Hyatt Place in the St. Augustine and Villano Beach area.
“We can’t wait to commemorate this milestone with everyone,” Viger said.
