UPDATE: March 2010
Southwind Park’s navigation system celebrated as part of national,
award-winning initiative.
The Council on Foundations, the nation’s major organization of
philanthropy and grantmaking, has announced that the Access to
Recreation initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has
been recognized with the Critical Impact Award for demonstrating
innovative leadership, bold vision, and significant impact in
advancing the common good through effective grantmaking.
Press Release on Critical Impact Award
The Springfield Park District’s Southwind Park is scheduled to open in
summer of 2010 and park visitors will be able to visit Erin’s Pavilion
and check out handheld GPS video tour guides which were funded by the
Access to Recreation grant.
Wheelchair accessible golf cart tram for use at Southwind Park
About the Access to Recreation Program
SCCF, in partnership with the
Springfield
Park District (SPD), has been selected as one of four Illinois
communities to receive an Access to Recreation grant. The $426,000
grant was made from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, MI. A
large portion of the grant will be used to support a navigation system
for Southwind Park. This navigation system will compliment the park's
numerous features that will make it accessible for people of all
abilities. The navigation system will include interpretive signs,
accessible golf carts, TTY communication systems, and an emergency
call system.
The other major element of the grant award includes the creation of a
permanent endowment fund at the Community Foundation for accessible
recreation projects. SCCF has created a permanent endowment, the
Access to Recreation Endowment Fund, to support these projects.
The Access to Recreation Endowment Fund is seeded by a $134,000
challenge grant from the Kellogg Foundation. Upon the Community
Foundation raising the necessary matching dollars, the Fund will be
valued at $268,000!
The resulting fund will make annual disbursements to support
accessible recreation projects in Sangamon County. Projects will
include those that seek to make recreational opportunities inclusive
for people of all abilities and may include school playgrounds, park
facilities, or special programs. SCCF is forming an advisory committee
to determine how best to grant these funds in the future.
SCCF would like to encourage community members who are interested in
doubling their charitable dollars and help meet the challenge grant to
contact the Community Foundation at 789-4431.
For more information about the Access to Recreation initiative, please
visit
www.accesstorecreation.org.
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