40 Mile Park Foundation looking for ways to enhance park

By:Justin Seward

Commentator/Courier

By Justin Seward

Commentator/Courier

The 40 Mile Park Foundation is an opportunity for people to donate money to the organization and in turn will go into park projects in collaboration with the 40 Mile Park Committee.
“I think the foundation is moving ahead really well right now,” said foundation president Steve Wikkerink.
“I think we have a very good relationship with the 40 Mile Park Committee. The communication between the two groups is good. I think it’s probably as good as it’s been in awhile. Hopefully we can find ways to fundraise and keep money in the foundation so we can keep assisting the park committee and developing the park even further.”
The foundation works closely with the park committee on what projects they have in mind but there are others they do not touch.
“We won’t fund any capital purchases that are moveable,” said Wikkerink.
“We don’t invest in mowers and bobcats and stuff like that leave the park. We’ll only invest in this wash house. We’ve put money into gazebos. We’ve put some money into network. If the park comes up with some other projects down by the waterfront or some other need they see in the park that needs to be met and they wish to request funding, they can send us a letter and we will review it.”
The $250,000- $300,000 wash house project that is expected to break ground in the spring will have half the funds coming from the foundation.
Wikkerink said the park is a huge drawing card for the area and has seen people from Calgary and Edmonton make the trek out to spend a week or a whole summer .
“It’s a beautiful spot for us locally to enjoy and trees and everything are developing nice,” he said, on the importance of the park.
“The staff our there have worked very hard to keep stuff mowed, trees watered and they brought trees in probably about three years ago. I think we funded part of that. I think the 40 Mile Park just as a park is a real important recreation area for the county.”

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