Bloomingdale Park District issued the following announcement on May 23.
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation recently approved two separate grants for the Bloomingdale Park Foundation potentially totaling $32,500 to benefit the Springfield Park Wetlands.
"The Bloomingdale Park Foundation is excited to be able to help the Park District secure these funds for such an important natural area in Bloomingdale," said Rick Tayfel, president of the Parks Foundation. "Wetlands are delicate places and managing them is a big job. These grants help the Park District keep Springfield Park Wetlands in balance by promoting native species and controlling non-native invasive populations."
One grant for up to $27,000 is for stewardship of the wetlands. In addition to a direct appeal to individual donors and friends, there are a number of fundraisers (Sunrise Shuffle 5K, Holiday Gift Wrap at Stratford Square Mall, Lou Malnati's Pizza Voucher Sale, etc.) from which a portion of the resources can be applied to meet the $7,000 fundraising challenge and be matched 3 to 1 by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
The second grant is for up to $5,500 for public amenities and events at the wetlands. The amenities include upgrades and/or replacement of visitor boardwalks and stationary and floating piers, as well as repair/replacement of the interpretive signage that surrounds the wetlands. The event to be conducted is the annual Make A Difference Day scheduled for October 2018.
"We thank the Bloomingdale Parks Foundation for its efforts in securing these grants to assist the Park District," said BPD Executive Director Carrie Fullerton. "These are significant resources to help us continue the high level of stewardship of the Springfield Park Wetlands."
Follow progress of the restoration of the Springfield Park Wetlands on the Park District's Facebook page. .
Original source can be found here.
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