The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center’s habitats and history could make for a good book.

It could also make for an excellent promotional opportunity for the Austin center, which is why local photographer John Duren is working with nature center officials to produce a 200-page coffee table book entitled “The Essence of Place: The Story of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.”

“The goal of this is to create kind of an emotional connection to the nature center,” Duren said.

Duren and Executive Director Larry Dolphin presented the book idea to the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry board on Wednesday. The board approved a $50,000 request to the Hormel Foundation to help fund the book.

“They were onboard right away,” Duren said of the foundation. “They viewed it as an opportunity to market the nature center.”

Duren will work with an author to produce the book over the next year. During that time, he hopes to secure the $50,000 from the foundation. The Friends of the nature center have already approved $39,000 for the project.

The book is set to be released in 2016. Nature center officials hope to print about 2,000 copies to start. If priced at $45, those 2,000 copies would actually make a profit which would go entirely to the nature center.

Several parks and rec board members thought the book would make a great gift for visiting dignitaries as well as a way to promote the area.