Key West Wildlife Center breaks ground for new avian clinic building

Pictured left to right, breaking ground on Tuesday for the Key West Wildlife Center’s new clinic building: City of Key West Fire Inspector Timothy Anson; KWWC Executive Director Tom Sweets; Community Foundation of the Florida Keys President/CEO Jennifer McComb; City of Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg; Miguel Liz, Proprietor, Liz Carpentry; Diane Schmidt, G.M. Opal Resort & Marina and Sunset Key Cottages; Key West Mayor Teri Johnston; KWWC board President Jennifer Lopes; KWWC board V.P. Jack Wetzler; Haven Burkee, Bender & Associates Architects; Key West City Commissioner Billy Wardlow; KWWC Animal Care Director Peggy Coontz; Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay; and Key West Assistant City Manager Todd Stoughton.
(Photo: Michael Blades/KWWC)

On Tuesday, June 4, Key West Wildlife Center staff, board members, and area dignitaries welcomed guests to a groundbreaking ceremony marking the official launch of construction for the Center’s long-awaited new wildlife rescue and rehabilitation clinic building, an elevated, Category 5 hurricane hardened modular structure that will replace the organization’s old and badly decaying one, situated within the 7-acre Indigenous Park off of White Street near Atlantic Blvd.

For more than 25 years the KWWC has been providing 24-hour emergency rescue services for wildlife in Key West and the lower Keys. Its present clinic building, which serves as the hub and ICU for wildlife care, is an early-version manufactured unit, which according to board president Jennifer Lopes, has significant roof deterioration and other structural issues, along with mechanical systems that over time have become largely inoperable.

“Our new building, which will serve as both a clinic and visitor welcome center, has been designed for our area’s unique climate conditions and will be elevated to meet all newly established FEMA flood levels,” said Lopes. “It will offer a better equipped dedicated treatment area for our patients, with 25% more interior space for patient care, and 40% more exterior space for rehabilitation, along with ample protected space for education and outreach.”

The new clinic building is one of two consequential projects being funded by KWWC’s “Raising the Roof … Building Our Future” capital campaign. The other is renovation of the Center’s recuperation/reconditioning aviary. The capital campaign began in 2021 and now, thanks to a recently awarded 1 to 1 matching grant, is close to successfully meeting its $2.4 million goal.

The Key West Wildlife Center is a 501(C) (3) charitable tax-exempt organization devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild birds. The Center also works closely with other local and regional rescue groups to provide rehabilitation for non-avian species. According to KWWC Executive Director Tom Sweets, some 1,500 native wildlife patients were rescued in 2023 alone.

Located at 1801 White St., KWWC is open from 11:00am to 4:00pm on weekends, and variable hours during the week at present, due to the construction. It is recommended to call in advance on weekdays to confirm open hours. Those interested in supporting the “Raising the Roof … Building Our Future” campaign and/or volunteering at the Center can call 305-292-1008. For more information visit keywestwildlifecenter.org.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]