Despite extensive storm damage to the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, the doors opened on schedule over the weekend – thanks to the hard work and generosity of volunteers and donors.

“I think a lot of people have a connection to the marsh,” Linda Woodard said, the center’s director, explaining why so many people have come forward to help out. “It’s a real community place.”

During the Patriot’s Day storm, the two buildings at the center were flooded and covered with dead grass and mud from the marsh. Water swept in from across Pine Point Road, leaving half the gravel parking lot unusable. Though Woodard did not know the total cost of the damages, she said, an estimate for repairing the parking lot alone is $15,000.

After the storm, Woodard said about 100 people showed up to help clean the place. Home Depot stepped up to offer lumber and tools to help rebuild the walls, which had to be torn out after the flooding. Also, Starbucks gave $10 for every hour their employees volunteered at the center, and ended up donating $1,000 in total.

“Green Mountain Coffee stopped in yesterday and asked what they could do to help,” Woodard said, adding to the list of businesses that expressed an interest in the marsh center.

Two more events were held with the intention of helping to raise money for repairs. The Mighty Marsh Muckers, a team of seven birdwatchers, including Woodard, participated in Maine Audubon’s ninth annual bird-a-thon, May 20. During the 24-hour event, the team attempted to identify as many species as possible, raising money through pledges. Woodard said the team spotted 140 species, and though she was unsure of what the team brought in as a whole, she said she alone raised $2,000.

Eddie Woodin, a Scarborough resident who normally participates in the bird-a-thon, made up for his absence by pledging $1,000 to the cause. He called the marsh center “a wonderful offering by Maine Audubon,” and commended Woodard and her staff for their hard work.

“They really are stewards of the marsh, which is such a vital resource,” said Woodin, who utilizes it for taking walks and watching birds.

On Memorial Day, more than 150 people showed up to participate in the third annual Snowy Egret 5K, another Audubon fundraiser. Woodard said Tuesday she did not have a final tally for money raised, but she already counted the race a success, because the number of runners increased from the year before and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The marsh center offers a a variety of guided and self-guided walks and canoe tours in addition to exhibits, a nature store, and canoe rentals. Woodard said business was on the light side for opening weekend, but Sunday was the busiest, with about 60 people coming through.

“I think we had a pretty good opening weekend, considering the conditions,” Woodard said. “A lot of people stopped in just to see how things were,” she said.

The interest is definitely out there, according to assistant director of the marsh center, Carole Brush, who spent Saturday morning tidying up the nature center in anticipation of the season’s first customers.

“A ton of people came by the day before and asked if we were renting,” Brush said. She said about half the canoes are up on the rack, ready to be rented.

Woodard expects the center to be returned to its former condition within the next month and a half. She said the month of June is typically slow, so the lack of parking shouldn’t be a big issue as they wait to hear from the Department of Environmental Protection about the best way to proceed with construction, keeping the safety of the marsh the top priority.

For now, Woodard said, the center can still use all the help it can get, calling especially for basic carpentry skills to help reconstruct the buildings.

“Financially and volunteer-wise, we still need a lot of help,” Woodard said, “this year more than ever.”

Linda Woodard is the director of the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, which is in the process of rebuilding after being damaged in the Patriot’s Day storm. The center opened for business on Saturday.(marsh13) Volunteers gathered last month to help clean up Scarborough Marsh and the marsh center, which was flooded in the Patriot’s Day storm.