PARK BOARD ESTABLISHES GROUP FOR FUND RAISING

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is hoping a new association established Monday will raise funds for parks improvements not currently funded by the city.

The park board Monday unanimously approved the articles of incorporation and bylaws for the Cape Girardeau Parks Development Foundation.

Jackie Todd and Gail "Woody" Woodfin, who helped spearhead the foundation effort, attended Monday's meeting to discuss the proposal.

Todd said the foundation would allow individuals and businesses to contribute to parks improvements and development without donating funds directly to the city.

Woodfin said the group would solicit donations for specific projects and would review contributions of land and money for future development.

He praised the city and Cape Girardeau County for the area's park system, but said "we just want to add a little bit to it."

Board Chairman Jim Grebing said the foundation is "not going to be a panacea" for all improvement needs but would help supplement the $75,000 earmarked annually in the city's budget for parks capital improvements.

"Often times, people are a little hesitant to give to the city directly," Grebing said, "but they might be willing to give toward a park foundation.

"It's really unlimited what the potential would be, and it's worked in other cities."

Parks and Recreation Director Dan Muser said the foundation, park board and city council would work together to assure that donations fit with long-term park development plans.

"We're hoping that all the money that comes in won't necessarily have strings attached," he said.

In other business, the board approved the bylaws for the May Greene Garden Association and appointed a board of directors to oversee the maintenance of the garden.

The city council last week took no action on a request by the park board to officially designate May Greene Garden as a city park, but some council members indicated they would favor the proposal.

The council asked City Attorney Warren Wells to iron out legal aspects of the agreement between the city and the U.S. General Services Administration, which owns the garden site.

Larry Bohnsack and Jim Logan reported to the board that many improvements have been made since a grass-roots effort three years ago spared the site from becoming a parking lot for the Federal Building on Broadway.

The May Greene Garden Association will manage the site and will raise funds for maintenance and improvements to the garden.

The association's board of directors includes: Judith Crow, Logan, Bohnsack, Ann Foust, Maxine Davis, Gwen Hirsch and Grebing.

The park board also recommended that $6,000 of the parks capital improvements budget be allocated for improvements with the girls softball league diamonds at Arena Park.