Combined efforts lead to new trees planted

To the editor:

The Clay Community Parks Association was formed in 1990 by a group of area volunteers. The goal was to help support and improve the local parks by raising funds for improvement projects beyond the scope of local tax budgets. I am happy to say that many of the original members are still actively involved with the organization today. These leaders include Jesse Pitts, Kenneth Crabb, Wilmadean Baker and Virgil Butts. Their leadership, community support, private fundraising and grant applications have resulted in thousands of dollars worth of supplemental park improvements.

One of the most recent CCPA park projects was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Wabash Valley Community Foundation in the fall of 2013. Since 1990, local funds have been raised annually to plant nearly 150 trees in Forest Park. This grant provided for the removal of 28 large, dead trees and stumps from Forest Park. These grant funds from Wabash Valley Community Foundation made possible a needed project far beyond the annual park budget limitations. Furthermore, this grant allowed an additional $6,000 raised by the CCPA to be used to plant an additional 28 replacement trees this spring. This was all done with private contributions, no tax dollars were spent.

This very successful project would not have been possible without the combined efforts of the Brazil Parks and Recreation Board, CCPA and most of all the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. We appreciate everyone who contributed in any way. We hope you and the generations to come continue to enjoy our parks as we do.

Thomas Reberger

President, CCPA

Brazil