KIRTLAND, Ohio -- Soon, Holden Arboretum visitors will know what it feels like to peer into the secret realm of birds and insects high above the earth.

The new Kalberer Family Emergent Tower and Judith and Maynard H. Murch IV Canopy Walk, will lift visitors above the treetops in an effort to increase our understanding of the natural world and foster efforts to conserve Northeast Ohio's forests.

The canopy walk is comprised of a wheelchair-accessible ramp leading to four suspension bridges that reach out into the forest like fingers; the tallest is 65 feet off the ground. At the Emergent Tower, 202 steps will carry you from the ground to a 120-foot-tall observation platform that affords views of Lake Erie.

These structures, among the first of their kind in Northeast Ohio, open to the public on Monday, Sept. 14. There will be a separate adult admission price, $4 for both structures, for guests who aren't members of Holden or the Cleveland Botanical Garden. The botanical garden and Holden have merged into a single organization.

Read a separate story in this blog that explains the canopy walk and emergent tower by the numbers.

The tower and canopy walk allow views of birds that are usually heard but not seen, such as warblers, hummingbirds and birds that pick insects off of leaves. "They do that high up - not on the ground," said Holden Arboretum president and CEO Clem Hamilton.

Dragonflies and butterflies that prefer heights are part of that ecological niche, too.

"We want guests to experience the beauty, wonder and diversity of the forest ecosystem - especially the parts we don't normally get to see," Hamilton said.

The $1.3 million tower and canopy walk are part of Holden's $9 million New Leaf capital campaign. The campaign raised funds to create a rhododendron garden, tree allee, renovated library and ecologically restoration of Corning Lake and Lotus Pond.

The tower and canopy walk are located in separate areas of Holden's grounds, each about a half-mile walk from the Warren H. Corning Visitor Center. They were designed and built by Phoenix Experiential Designs, based in Boone, North Carolina. The company has designed climbing towers, challenge courses and canopy walkways all over the world.

Work on Holden's newest attractions began last year, when sections of the tower and canopy walk were prefabricated in North Carolina and transported to Holden, where an eight-person crew tackled building the tower first. A helicopter lifted pre-assembled sections of the tower from Holden's parking lot to the tower's construction site in an oak forest.

Phoenix Experiential Designs used crane mats - thick squares of heavy-duty synthetic material - to protect tree roots from cranes and trucks. "We wanted to do the least amount of damage to the woods and be as careful as possible," said Alan Frye, the structures' designer and director of operations for Phoenix Experiential Designs.

At the Emergent Tower, visitors will get different experiences as they climb. On the lower levels, stairs wrap around the outside of the structure so the limbs of nearby trees are visible. At 70 feet, the stairs continue inside the tower, so that climbers feel more secure.

The bottom of the tower has buttresses to add stability. "It emulates a tree somewhat," Frye said, referring to the thick, buttress-like roots that help some trees withstand high winds. The structure is called the Emergent Tower because visitors emerge above the treetops when they reach the top.

The tower's hand and side railings give those who fear heights plenty to hang onto, and the increasingly spectacular views of Lake County are a powerful incentive to keep climbing. You can pause at any of the platforms to take a steadying breath. On the uppermost levels, you'll feel the tower swaying slightly, which it was designed to do.

Going down the tower's steps can be a queasy experience. The mesh-like design of the steps - which allows rain and snow to pass through - also lets climbers see all the way to the ground. Frye advises looking straight out, instead of down, and keeping a firm hand on the stair rail until the sensation passes.

Did Hamilton, who admits he is afraid of heights, make it to the tip-top of the tower? "You bet!" he enthused. "I had that 'wow' experience. I thought, "Oh my goodness, this is better than we thought.' "

While the tower is completed, the canopy walk is still under construction. Cables hanging from trees are being used to hoist the prefabricated sections in place, and workers in safety harnesses connect the sections together.

When the canopy walk is finished, the bridges will stretch a total of 500 feet, with hand rails and steel mesh railings for safety.

The walk's design was determined, in part, by the terrain, Frye said. Only four trees, which were at the end of their life spans, were felled to make room for the project.

Frye worked hard at getting the canopy walk to the right length. Too short, and visitors wouldn't get the full experience. Too long, and it would intimidate people. "We want people to challenge themselves, but not be scared off," Frye said.

Sharp-eyed guests might spot a hummingbird's nest or other evidence of wildlife high among the surrounding sugar maples, beeches, hemlocks, shag bark hickories and red and white oaks. If so, the canopy walk and emergent tower will be fulfilling their mission to offer peeks into a world usually hidden from human eyes.

"You can look for wildlife from a perspective you've never seen it, " Frye said.

IF YOU GO

Here are the activities that will celebrate the opening of the Kalberer Family Emergent Tower and the Judith and Maynard H. Murch IV Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum.

Holden is located at 9550 Sperry Road, Kirtland. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for youth ages 6-18 and free for members of Holden and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Members' Sneak Peek

Members-only access to the tower and canopy walk. This opportunity includes members of Holden and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Sunday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 13.

Admission: Free for members of Holden and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Members' Opening Party:

Hours: 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.

This is an Oktoberfest-style event that includes an exclusive sneak peek of the canopy walk and tower, music, food, drinks and fireworks.

Admission: $60 for members of Holden and The Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower debuts to the public

Hours: Starts 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. On this date and afterwards, the structures will be open daily during Holden's operating hours.

Admission: $4 for adult, $2 for children and free for members, for both structures. Prices are in addition to arboretum admission, which is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for youth ages 6-18, and free for members of Holden and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Tickets must be obtained in advance from the visitor center.