Its role in the redevelopment of a formerly contaminated site has netted the Lehigh Gap Nature Center a highly distinguished honor.

A full capacity crowd converged on the nature center in Slatington Friday, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the nature center, along with Executive Director Dan Kunkle, with EPA's 2014 Excellence in Site Reuse Award.

The EPA Regional award recognizes the work that led to the redevelopment of a major portion of the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site, a formerly contaminated site, into a wildlife preserve and habitat that promotes conservation, education and research.

Bob Hoopes, LGNC board member, welcomed those in attendance, which included fellow board members, Carbon County Commissioners Thomas J. Gerhard and Wayne Nothstein, chairman, and students and faculty from St. John Neumann Regional School.

Hoopes said, "This is a big deal today."

Shawn Garvin, EPA's mid-Atlantic Regional [JUMP]Administrator, said, "We're here to really recognize an outstanding effort."

For full story see Saturday's edition.

See photos from today and at the center:

http://www.tnonline.com/gallery/lehigh-gap-nature-center