JACKSON PARKS WILL GET SUPPORT OF FOUNDATION

JACKSON -- With an annual budget of $100,000, the Jackson Park Board has only enough money to take care of the operation, maintenance and repair of park equipment, grounds upkeep, restroom maintenance, shelters, ball fields and salaries.

That means major capital improvements must be funded from other sources. In the past, Jackson service clubs and churches have pitched in to help build park shelters, a walking trail and the Rotary Lake, along with many other smaller improvements.

But Park Board Chairman Lee Fronabarger says many still-needed capital projects are simply too expensive for any one group to finance. That's why the Jackson Park Foundation was created.

Fronabarger said the foundation will enable the people of Jackson to make donations, bequests or endowments for overall park development and improvements, or for specific park development or improvement projects they specify.

The city's Board of Aldermen approved a measure last week creating the foundation. Fronabarger said the foundation will be in operation around March 1.

"Gifts, grants, or endowments may be given to the Park Foundation by individuals, families, ~churches, service or private clubs, or any business," Fronabarger explained. "These gifts to the foundation may be `In Memory Of' or in any form whatsoever. No matter how small or how large, the Park Foundation will be grateful for a gift or grant."

He emphasized that none of the foundation funds will be used for park operations.

Fronabarger said potential capital improvement projects that could be funded by the foundation include purchase of new playground equipment, erection of more park shelters, construction of new baseball and hardball diamonds, soccer field improvements and development of nature sanctuaries and walking and jogging trails.

Fronabarger said one tiny-tot, spring animal costs $150. A larger size Jungle Jim costs anywhere from $8,000 to $12,000. The price of an average size picnic shelter is about $20,000, and that only includes the cost of materials. The shelters are put up with donated labor or by the park staff.

The city has six ball diamonds, ranging from T-ball to Babe Ruth League. Fronabarger says they need three to four more ball diamonds to keep up with the growing demand. There has also been a suggestion for an outdoor chapel in the Brookside Park.

"We have areas in Litz Park and Brookside Park that could be made into nice sanctuaries," he said. "Of course, we always need more trees and landscaping in the parks.

"Jackson residents take pride in their beautiful parks and visitors to our community recognize what beautiful parks we indeed have," Fronabarger continued. "Many years of hard work, dedication and pride in our community have contributed to our fine city parks system."

Fronabarger said donations, payable to the Jackson Park Foundation, should be sent to Jackson City Hall, City Park Department, 225 S. High, Jackson, Mo., 63755.

For more information, contact Fronabarger, 243-5061, or call Jim Goodpasture, park superintendent.