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community
banking...
What does it mean to you?
“Community banking means
neighbors helping
neighbors.”
- BECCA M.
www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
NEWS
FEATURE PHOTO
The Other “Basketball”
co
Classmates try to toss balls into a basket on Nina Sullivan’s head as students from Creston School enjoy the last day of school outside. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Bouldering Project Receives Matching Grant Daybreak Rotary in Kalispell puts up $20,000 for rock climbing features
BY TRISTAN SCOTT OF THE BEACON
A project to build a bouldering park in Kalispell received another boost this month when the Daybreak Rotary Club offered to put up a $20,000 matching grant.
The nonprofit Kalispell Boulder Project is spearheaded by a group of Flat- head Valley climbers and outdoor enthu- siasts who have been raising money to fund the project in hopes of having the boulders installed by late summer 2016.
The group has been mounting com- munity support through a series of fund- raising events in the Flathead Valley, but the Rotary’s contribution is the largest to date.
Through the Kalispell Community Foundation, the Kalispell Boulder Proj- ect has established a fund while garner- ing support from the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department, which will provide the space for the bouldering fea- tures at the southern end of Lawrence Park in Kalispell. After the boulders are installed, the city of Kalispell will assume responsibility for the park.
The goal is to raise $100,000 for the manufacturing and installation of the concrete boulders, and Jandy Cox, man- ager at Rocky Mountain Outfitter in
Kalispell, said the fund- raising efforts have been met by strong community support, with $20,000 raised so far.
“The main thing with
this is we will be two-
thirds of the way done
and that puts the reality
of this project in a whole
new light,” Cox said.
“With every dollar being
doubled it is a real motiva-
tor for people if they hav-
en’t supported it and want
to. I am convinced that by
this time next year we will be climbing.”
Daybreak Rotary President Sandy Carlson said the club decided to make the bouldering park a priority because it will beautify Lawrence Park, which is where the club began its history of com- munity projects more than 20 years ago, when it funded construction of the park’s pavilion.
“When our members saw the oppor- tunity to help the park again, we jumped on the opportunity,” Carlson said.
The club is using money from a dona- tion left by a former member, and will double any contributions by members of the public between now and the end
Boulder Project in Lawrence Park. COURTESY RENDERING
of the year, up to $20,000.
“We hope this will encourage other
clubs and members of the public to donate and organize fundraising par- ties and activities,” she said.
Bouldering is a form of climbing that is performed without the use of ropes or harnesses. It can be done without any equipment, but many climbers use special climbing shoes to help secure footholds.
Donations to the Flathead Commu- nity Foundation, the nonprofit commu- nity fundraising arm, can be made at KalispellBoulderProject.com.
[email protected]
www.T
JUNE 17, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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