JACKSON PARK EFFORT PROVES TO BE SUCCESS

JACKSON -- More than $3,000 has been received by the Jackson Park Foundation since it formed earlier this year, a city official said Tuesday.

The Jackson Park Board and the Jackson Board of Aldermen created the non-profit foundation to accept donations from citizens, civic and private organizations, and others for capital development of the city park system.

City Clerk Mary Lowry said the foundation has received $3,350 in donations since it began operation on March 1.

Lowry said some of the larger donations include $1,000 from the Jackson Jaycees, a $1,000 donation earmarked for the development of Litz Park, $377 for a new flag pole and flag for Litz Park, $250 from a local business for general park development, and $250 from the Jackson Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. The rest of the donations are made up of smaller donations from individuals and other organizations, Lowry said.

Park Board Chairman Lee Fronabarger said the park board's annual $100,000 budget provides only enough revenue to take care of the operation, maintenance and repair of park equipment, grounds upkeep, restroom maintenance shelters, ball fields and salaries.

That leaves few funds for major capital improvement projects in parks or development of the newest city parks: Litz Park and Brookside Park.

In the past, Jackson's service and civic clubs and churches volunteered their money, materials and labor to help build park shelters, a walking trail and the Rotary Lake, plus many other smaller improvements.

Fronabarger said many of the needed capital projects are beyond the funding ability of any single individual or organization.

He said the foundation enables individuals, civic and private organizations, and businesses and local industry to make any size contribution for the overall development of the park system, or to earmark their donation for a specific purpose or park.

Fronabarger said the foundation makes it possible for a group of individuals or organizations to join together to raise money for a specific park improvement project.

Fronabarger said donations to the Jackson Park Foundation may be in the form of a gift, grant, endowment, or memorial for a specific purpose.

He said none of the donations made to the foundation will be used for routine park operations. All donations to the foundation are tax-deductible.

Fronabarger said some of the capital improvement projects that might be funded by the foundation include purchase of new playground equipment, more park shelters, new softball and baseball diamonds, soccer field improvements, nature trails and sanctuaries, and walking and jogging trails.

He urged individuals, civic or private clubs, businesses, and industry to remember the Jackson Park Foundation and its goal of continued development of new and existing parks in the city.

Fronabarger said anyone who would like to earmark a donation, grant, endowment, or memorial for a specific park development project should contact him, or any member of the park board, for additional information. His number is 243-5061.

Donations, payable to the Jackson Park Foundation, should be sent to Jackson City Hall, City Park Department, 225 S. High, Jackson, Mo., 63755. The donation should specify if it is to be used for the general development of the parks, or for a specific improvement project.