09/17/2026
🌊 **A BIGGER VISION FOR THE SPACE COAST**
Over the past several months, **Space Coast Water Sweep** has been developing something that has continued to grow far beyond where it started.
And earlier this week, we had the opportunity to begin sharing more of that vision with people throughout our community.
The response has been incredible.
🌊 **THE SPACE COAST WATER SWEEP CONSERVATION & DISCOVERY CENTER**
Space Coast Water Sweep started with a simple mission—bring people together and take action to help protect and clean up the Indian River Lagoon.
As our conservation programs, technology, partnerships and ideas have continued to grow, we began asking a bigger question:
**What if we could build something here on the Space Coast that doesn't just talk about conservation—but actually DOES conservation every single day?**
That is the idea behind the Conservation & Discovery Center.
The image below represents our **conceptual vision** for what a future campus could become. It is not a final site plan. A property has not been selected, and the final campus would ultimately be designed around the property and opportunities available.
But this shows the bigger picture.
Imagine a waterfront conservation campus where the public can actually see **science, technology, education and conservation working together.**
🔬 Research laboratories studying our waterways and helping us better understand the Indian River Lagoon.
🚤 **Project Lagoon** survey and recovery teams operating directly from working docks—using technology to locate, document, map and support the removal of submerged marine debris.
🤖 Sonar, ROVs, drones, AI and environmental intelligence helping us understand what is happening above and below the surface.
🛠️ An Innovation & Fabrication Center where new conservation and restoration technologies can be designed, built, tested and improved.
🌱 Native plants, restoration projects, NatureScape demonstrations, living shorelines and hands-on conservation education.
🎓 STEM programs where students don't just read about science—they get to experience it.
🐬 Natural-history and marine-life exhibits, including real specimens and hands-on opportunities that bring the Lagoon and Florida's environment to life.
🛶 Kayak experiences, eco-tours, trails and boardwalks connecting visitors directly with the Indian River Lagoon.
🚀 And because this is the Space Coast, a **Space Coast Through Time observation tower** celebrating our area's past, present and future—with opportunities to experience rocket launches overlooking the Lagoon.
But there is an even larger purpose behind all of this.
Our long-term vision is to create a Center that can eventually help **support conservation itself.**
Admissions, memberships, tours, events, partnerships, sponsorships and other activities could help operate the Center while creating sustainable resources that can be reinvested into conservation, research, education and restoration throughout the Indian River Lagoon.
Imagine building an institution that doesn't simply ask our community to support conservation—but works toward generating resources to help fund conservation for generations.
Over the past several months, this has progressed from ideas and conversations into drawings, detailed planning, programs and a much larger vision.
**And now another stage is beginning.**
Earlier this week, we were able to put this vision in front of several people in our community.
People understood it.
They saw the possibilities.
And conversations are beginning about introductions, partnerships, resources and what it could take to move something of this scale forward.
