The Parks Division has been working with the Billings Parks, Recreation and Preservation Foundation (BPRPF) and other community partners throughout 2017 to raise funds for three projects.  These projects are: Arbor Day, Songbird Community Garden and Amend Park Community Garden.  Some donations and grants have restrictions that require the funds to be awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Because of these requirements, the Parks Division has been working cooperatively with BPRPF since they are a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the park’s mission and are eligible for these types of contributions.  BPRPF has submitted donations toward the abovementioned projects and City Council policy requires Council approval of donations of $500 or more.  Below is a brief description of each donation.  As many of the donations are made up of a variety of individual contributors, a breakdown of the contributors is attached.

Arbor Day:  The Arbor Day celebration takes place each May.  The 2017 event involved 450 fourth graders from 9 local elementary schools receiving environmental education at Veteran’s Park.  Additionally, around 175 volunteers participated in park improvement projects.  The funds raised for Arbor Day will be used to pay for the trees planted and park improvement projects that took place at Veteran’s Park during the 2017 event.  BPRPF is donating $1,220 to the Arbor Day event. 

Songbird Community Garden: Songbird Community Garden is located on parkland near the Josephine Crossing Subdivision.  The garden opened in the spring of 2017 and had 32 households participate using 32 plots with a total of 3,400 lbs of produce harvested.  The funds raised for this project will cover the cost of a well, cistern, pumps, fencing and irrigation materials.  In addition to the financial contributions, BPRPF has donated a shade structure.  The cash contributions total $12,910.08.  The shade structure is valued at $1,400.  The total contribution to this project is $14,310.08

Amend Park Community Garden:  The Amend Park Community Garden has been in operation since 2014.  The garden has over 50 plots utilized by citizens.  In 2017, 4,200 lbs of produce was harvested.  The Parks Division has hoped to construct a shade structure as a location to host education workshops and classes, and also to provide a resting spot for gardeners.  In 2017, BPRPF jointly applied for, and received, a Lucky’s Community Giving Grant to purchase a shade structure.  BPRPF is donating $3,839.20 in grant fund for the shade structure.

In summary, the BPRPF is donating the following:
Arbor Day-$1,220.00
Songbird Community Garden-$14,310.08
Amend Park Community Garden-$3,839.20
Total-$19,369.28

City Council may:

• Approve the receipt of the $19,369.28 donation from the Billings Parks, Recreation and Preservation Foundation, or;
• Disapprove and provide staff with additional guidance.

The $19,369.28 donation will have several financial impacts. The community garden projects are enhancements that will not be funded without the donations.   The Arbor Day donation will reimburse the city for funds used to purchase materials for the 2017 event.  This reimbursement will enable the previously expensed funds to be used for Arbor Day 2018. 

Staff recommends City Council accept the Billings Parks, Recreation and Preservation Foundation donation.