Bible Park developer promises 'green' destination on The Murfreesboro Post

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Bible Park developer promises 'green' destination

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Officials with SafeHarbor Holding, LLC, developer of the Bible Park USA, have committed to developing the Park in a way that is both “sustainable and carbon-friendly ,” according to Armon Bar-Tur, the Park’s developer.

From the geothermal energy used to heat and cool the Park to the significant green space that surrounds it, the grass pavers that replace traditional asphalt in parking areas, and an aggressive recycling program inside the Park, the development will be a model of environmental responsibility for Rutherford County and indeed all tourist attractions, he said.

“We are committed to ensuring the park itself, from the ground up through our daily operations once we are open, is designed and managed in a way that has virtually no impact on the environment,” Bar-Tur said.

“Our employees will be trained in conservation measures and our visitors will be encouraged to participate by depositing their trash in recycling centers that will be positioned throughout the Park.”

In addition to its own consultants, park officials have begun discussions with Mimi Keisling, Rutherford County Environmental Education Coordinator, regarding the county’s policy and philosophy on sustainable practices. In addition, Keisling has recommended both local and regional recycling companies to contact for further information and possible partnerships.

“We look forward to working with county officials and local community groups like Recycle Rutherford,” Bar-Tur added.

The park will use geothermal energy to heat and cool all of the buildings at the Park. “Initially, installing geothermal is a little more expensive, but we believe it is worth it to use this renewable resource,” said Bar-Tur.

The application of geothermal heating and cooling, also known as ground source heat pumps, has been named "the most energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive of all space conditioning systems,” by the Environmental Protection Agency. The basic concept behind geothermal heating and cooling is its ability to take advantage of the earth's constant temperature, approximately 55 degrees, to heat and cool a building. By tapping this steady flow of heat from the earth in the winter, and displacing heat in the earth in the summer, geothermal heat pumps can save money while also saving energy.

In addition, master planners for the Park have worked to sustain many natural areas that currently exist on the proposed site, and use those areas in the Park’s design.

“We were instructed by Mr. Bar-Tur from the very beginning to fit the Park into the existing site as seamlessly and with as little change to the natural environment as possible, instead of the other way around,” says Charlie Smith, HOK Sport Venue Event Principal and Senior Architect and master planner for the Park.

“The park’s design fits beautifully onto the existing farmland. We were able to adjust the design to use the natural water feature that currently exists on the land as the Dead Sea, and fit the Sea of Galilee into an area utilizing natural contours. In addition, we are preserving the existing fields and meadows as well as an existing wheat field and incorporating that field into the Park’s view shed. That way, when visitors are enjoying the Park, they will look out onto a natural vista that will be planted and maintained with crops that are indigenous to the Holy Land and ancient Biblical times,” Smith added.

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By: dmiller31 on 5/12/08
This is a residential area, not an area for a theme park of any kind. Please find another location. And no, I don't live in this area!!

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