The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Foundation's recent restructuring is geared toward serving a more active role in the Jefferson City community.
The foundation helps plan projects to improve local parks and recreation activities in Jefferson City and Central Missouri. Part of the foundation's restructuring, completed in May, is becoming a more active participant in the community by fundraising more and offering more scholarships - which are awarded to low-income families so they can participate in recreational activities like the ones offered at The LINC wellness center.
Todd Spalding, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, said there might be some projects where it would be better for the foundation to fundraise instead of the projects going to the commission. For example, the foundation might be better for special projects, like commissioning an artist for a sculpture, than the commission, he said.
The foundation might also consider connecting trails outside of city limits - but if the trails are outside city limits, the parks sales tax cannot be used, he said.
Before the restructuring, the foundation took a more passive approach, primarily accepting donations and deciding where that money would go, and foundation members did a little fundraising and planned some events, Spalding said.
Part of the restructuring also means changing the foundation's bylaws to allow the foundation more independence from the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission, Spalding said. When the foundation formed in 1992, all commissioners were on the foundation board, which met once a year. Spalding said the commission thought the entities were too close and needed to act more independently from each other.
Board President Mark Towner said the foundation wouldn't necessarily be more independent, but it would work and communicate more with the parks commission and department to provide scholarships, sponsorships and other programs.
Four commissioners were approved during Tuesday night's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to serve on the foundation board: Chris Wilson, Andre Grinston, Stu Murphy and Bill Plank. Those commissioners will discuss projects and fundraising ideas with the current foundation board members Towner, Glenda Fry, Marty Miller and Darryl Winegar.
The first priority for the restructured foundation is fundraising more for scholarships because if fundraising increases, Spalding said, he thinks the number of scholarships offered will also increase, allowing the foundation to help more families.
"There is a tremendous need that I don't feel like we're meeting now with kids and families that can't afford (these activities)," Spalding said. "Right now, a portion of the foundation is for scholarships, but it's not a large amount. And it doesn't meet the needs of everything we need to do. I want to make sure there is an active foundation that is raising money to make sure that kids and families who can't afford it have every opportunity so that if they want to come to The LINC and want to work out or play basketball or play volleyball, that money does not become an issue."
The foundation will also focus on increasing sponsorships, allowing individuals and businesses to sponsor youth sports leagues and update equipment for those leagues.