Patriots for the Park is the name of a student organization at Owen Valley High School, located in Spencer, Indiana. The group recently announced an initiative to raise funds to rebuild a trail bridge at McCormick’s Creek State Park. The bridge, located in Wolf Cave Nature Preserve, was totally destroyed by the 2023 tornado, the same tornado that destroyed the campground.
The stated goal of Patriots for the Park, HOME | Patriots For The Park, is to raise $25,000. Their intent is to solicit donations from local residents and businesses, supplemented by profits from bake sales and other charity events. However, they have also partnered with the Owen County Community Foundation, which will match the funds they raise. This partnership should enable them to raise at least $50,000 toward the project.
On Monday, Dec. 16, IPA president Tom Hohman presented Patriots for the Park with a check for $5,000 from our Trails for Tomorrow fund. At the same time, Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park also donated $5,000.
If you recall, donations to the Trails for Tomorrow fund were originally matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, by an anonymous donor. By donating $5,000 to Patriots for the Park, we can indirectly leverage another $5,000 from the Community Foundation. That’s a win-win for everyone, and enables us to stretch our funds (your donations), even further.
We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this project.