Over $1,500,000 Granted By Garden of the Gods Foundation for Garden of the Gods Park
9/17/2008
NEWS RELEASE – SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTACT: Bonnie Frum
Director of Operations
Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center
1805 North 30th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719-219-0101
OVER $1,500,000 GRANTED BY THE GARDEN OF THE GODS FOUNDATION FOR GARDEN OF THE GODS PARK
At the recent fourteenth annual appreciation dinner for the over 100 volunteers at Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, Nancy Lewis presented a check for $141,930 to Paul Butcher, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services on behalf of the Garden of the Gods Foundation. This brings the amount provided to maintain the Garden of the Gods Park since the Visitor & Nature Center opened in May, 1995 to over $1.5 million. The annual funding fulfills the Garden of the Gods Foundation’s commitment to maintain and upgrade the Garden of the Gods Park. A volunteer board annually approves projects to benefit the Park which is the destination of nearly 2 million visitors yearly. Donations to the foundation are accepted from the public.
Much was accomplished in the last year.
* Pruning projects have improved the stressed gambel oak growth throughout the Park.
* Materials and maintenance of trails and control of erosion at Scotsman and Spring Canyon areas have been funded.
* An investment in school programs teaching the ecology and geology of the Park supported more than 6,000 local students.
As 2009 arrives, the 100th anniversary of the generous gift of Garden of the Gods Park to Colorado Springs by the Charles Elliott Perkins family will be commemorated. The Garden of the Gods Foundation will continue to sustain the quality of that gift by protecting and preserving the Park with funds.
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