$22,000 matching goal opportunity for Wallowa Bicycle Playground Park
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA – (From Building Healthy Families) To date, 93% of funding has been secured for the Wallowa Bicycle Playground Park on the Wallowa School Campus. Two foundations are challenging the community to close the gap by raising $22,000 in funds for the project. A matching goal opportunity will help suppose the $329,500 cost of the Bicycle Playground scheduled for construction in August. The Reser Family Foundation is pledging $12,000 and Roundhouse Foundation is committing an additional $10,000 on top of their previous donation of $15,000. Other entities supporting the project include The Ford Family Foundation, Cycle Oregon, Schwemm Family Foundation, Autzen Foundation, Juan Young Foundation, Woodgrain Lumber, Pacific Power Foundation, Wallowa County Rotary, Ronald Naito Foundation, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Walmart, and the OCF Community 101 Grant.
Building Healthy Families has been working on this project to build a Bicycle Playground in the town of Wallowa Since April 2021. The project was chosen based on a community survey in Wallowa identifying the need for safe recreational activities. The Bicycle Playground will have various features including a pump track, rollers, tunnels, rings, rock garden and teeter-totters. The Playground will provide a safe space for kids and families to ride bikes, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades. The Playground will feature a green space for signage, seating areas for friends to gather, and artwork developed by local students. Easy access to recreational opportunities will assist in promoting physical fitness and enhancing mental health for youth and families. The Bicycle Playground will be the only project of this nature in Northeast Oregon.
Beginning last September, an aggressive fundraising campaign was launched to secure funding for the project. Over 65 grants/requests have been submitted to foundations and businesses to support the Playground. Local support has come through generous donations, raffles, coin drive, can drive, and hat sales. The Playground has additionally received donations outside the county from Elgin, Baker City, La Grande, and from the states of Washington, Georgia, Idaho, and North Carolina.
Donations may be made to Building Health Families 207 NW Park Enterprise, OR. 97828. For questions call Ron Rickens at 541-426-9411
