Nature reserve and tourist center planned for Kaszó

A nature reserve park and tourist center in the forests and swamps of Kaszó, a town due south of Lake Balaton in Somogy county, is planned for this autumn if the city wins the tender for the Regional Operative Program. The forestry company HM Kaszó Erdőgazdaság Zrt is planning to build a park, a multipurpose interpretation center and an educational path, reports fn.hu.

vendegvaro.hu

An interpretative center and nature reserve is planned for the swamps and forests near Lake Baláta (above) in the southeastern Hungarian town of Kaszó, if the city wins the tender.

Project manager Péter Ihárosi said things look promising, as they won the first round of the tender, and he hopes to begin construction soon. The company expects the investment of Ft 250 million (€1 million) will bring a fourfold increase in the number of visitors per year, currently there are between 2,000 and 2,500 visitors annually.

Kaszó is famous for swampy dales surrounded by thick woodland, and is home to many rare and protected plants and animals. To allow visitors to enjoy this rich natural reserve, the city plans to build an educational walking path, a mini golf course, and a mountain biking path which will lead to Lake Baláta.

The center point of the project will be an indoor interpretation center which will use interactive means to educate tourists about wildlife, forestry and swamplands. The center will offer web-cameras inside so visitors can view the preserve on days when walking is less desirable.

Ihárosi said once construction begins the city hopes the park, preserve and center will be open to visitors within two years.

In 2011, the city would like to renovate a hunting lodge into a conference and holiday center, adding Ft 350 million to the total costs.

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