Annual Fund Drive
by Jim Weir, Executive Director

The funds to operate the foundation primarily come from monies collected from membership even though a large percentage of the membership fees are paid to Indy Parks for the purchase of park passes.  The Double Eagle Golf Tournament is the only significant fund raiser put on by the foundation.  As stated in the article in this newsletter, we have many challenges and opportunities if we are to fulfill our mission to make Eagle Creek Park Foundation the best it can be.  Those challenges and opportunities can only be met by raising additional funds above and beyond our membership fees.  For some time the Eagle Creek Park Foundation Board of Directors has discussed establishing an endowment to meet the needs of funding future projects and to ensure that projects we have already funded don’t fall into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance.  Other facilities in the city such as the Natatorium and the Tennis Center are facing similar challenges as they age.  We certainly would not want to see a premier facility like the Earth Discovery Center diminished in the future due to maintenance concerns.  An endowment would also allow the foundation to address needs without having to mount an individual capital campaign for each and every individual need.  With this newsletter you will receive a pledge form.  On it, you will notice, you can indicate how you wish to participate in our Annual Fund Drive.  You may choose to make a one time donation or, if you wish, you can donate on a semi-annual, quarterly or monthly basis by check or credit card. or automatic withdrawal from your account.  The foundation also has the ability to receive stock transfers and bequests.  Please note also on the pledge form that you can designate what you would like your donation ear-marked to support.

   In an ideal world a city park would be developed and maintained from the municipal budget, but the Indy Parks & Recreation Department is tasked with stewardship over more than 200 parks and recreation facilities.  The average resident pays approximately $47 per year for parks.  That’s about 12.5 cents a day to support more than 200 facilities covering nearly 11,000 acres.  By comparison Cincinnati residents pay $140 per year, Nashville - $103 per year, Cleveland - $88 per year and Louisville - $49 per year.  Even Fort Wayne residents pay $58 per year.  It seems obvious that our parks with their aging infrastructure cannot continue to provide the excellent experience we expect at 12.5 cents a day.  It is also obvious that at a time when we are clamoring to have our property taxes reduced, a tax increase to fund parks will not be in the cards in the near future.  According to information obtained at a recent Parks Board meeting, there will be less money available from tax revenue next year than this year and even less the following year as the personal property tax cap goes in place.  If Eagle Creek Park is going to continue to be the “gem” of the Indy Parks system, the funds will have to be generated outside the municipal system.  These facts combined with the challenges and opportunities we face make it necessary to ask you to help us in this annual fund drive.  Your donations can make a tremendous difference.  If Eagle Creek Park is “your place” for whatever activity, we are asking for your support to 1) keep it from harm, and 2) make it the best it can be.  Please complete the pledge form and take this opportunity to give back to the park.  Thank you!