4th Annual Regional Parks Foundation Small Grants

Mary Jo Delos, Foundation Director

In the past three years, the Regional Parks has completed 24 special projects totaling more than $25,000 funded by the Foundation’s Small Grant Program. These projects are requested by staff and benefit our 43 Regional Parks and 7 Veterans Memorial Buildings. The Regional Parks Foundation is pleased to announce the following project selections for FY 2006-07:

Volunteer Supply Trailer ($3,000)

The Foundation will share the cost of this trailer with the department. The trailer will provide a portable, secure space to store tools, equipment and supplies to be used in the many volunteer projects at various parks.

Volunteer Project Hand Tools ($700)

Funds will be used to purchase tools such as McLeods, Pulaskies, shovels, loppers, etc. to be used by John Ryan and staff on our many volunteer projects.

Jr. Park Ranger Badges ($300)

This will pay for 500 badges. Rangers will recognize kids who are observed being good stewards of the parks and practicing safe habits, i.e., picking up litter or wearing a bike helmet or untangling birds from fishing line.

Lumber Maker ($95)

This attachment to a chainsaw will enable staff to make lumber from downed trees. The lumber can be used by staff and volunteers for various projects.

Camping Reservation Website Improvements ($2,000)

This project will improve the departments camping web pages, which currently average nearly 10,000 hits a month. The project will create popup windows containing thumbnail photos of each individual campsite and include a general site description. This will improve service to our camping customers and save staff time when customers call to reserve a site.

One-Man Hole Digger ($805)

This tool can be used by staff and volunteers to dig holes for signs, gates and fences and tree planting.

Veterans Memorial Buildings

The Foundation has set aside $5,000 to be used as a challenge grant for Veterans Memorial Building improvements. We will solicit donations from Veterans Building users and supporters that we will match up to a total of $5,000. The Foundation will develop a plan for this challenge grant in January 2007.