The scale-model solar system that has been under development for years is celebrating a grand opening with a ribbon cutting and park cleanup on Earth Day.  

“This project started as a vision from local students in my class nearly 15 years ago,” said Trevor Macduff in a statement. He’s the founder of SILAS Education, the nonprofit developing the model solar system. “Today, it’s becoming a reality that will inspire exploration, learning, and connection across our entire region.” 

Called the Hanford Reach Solar System, the project is a large-scale model of the solar system spanning up to 80 miles across the Mid-Columbia.  

The center of the model, the sun, is based at the Reach Museum at 1943 Columbia Park Trail in Richland and is represented by the large arches over the museum’s outdoor space.

Other orbital markers are scattered throughout the region, with locations for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, the asteroid Ceres and Jupiter populating Columbia Park in two directions. Saturn is near the USS Triton Sail Park, while Uranus is in Benton City and Neptune can be found in Prosser.  

At the April 22 event, held from 4-6 p.m. at Camp Kiwanis in Columbia Park, the Tri-Cities Young Marines will lead volunteers in restoring areas of the park around the designated orbital markers.   

Go to: silaseducation.org/solar-system/explore-the-project.