Governor Announces Grant for Tucker Boulder Park
David Cooper, TCF President; Doug Toothman, Western Pocahontas Properties (Project partner); Scott Hinkle; Diane Hinkle, TCF Development Director; Governor Earl Ray Tomblin; Joe Drenning ,Mayor of Davis; Rob Burns, TCF Executive Director; Paul Wamsley, CEO St. George Medical Clinic, John McGarrity, WVDO. Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (November 5, 2015) – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today announced $584,809 in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for 11 community outdoor recreation projects across the state. These park improvements will leverage nearly $1.2 million in federal, local and private funds and will benefit more than 236,000 West Virginia residents.
“West Virginia is known for its natural beauty and abundance of outdoor recreational offerings for both residents and visitors alike,” Gov. Tomblin said. “I’m pleased to be able to provide this grant funding to support 11 unique projects across the state. Through this funding, we are improving our recreational areas, encouraging new economic development opportunities and improving the quality of life for all West Virginians.”
The National Park Service provides Land and Water Conservation Grant Funds to the State. Funds are administered by the Community Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for 2015 included $60,000 for the Town of Davis to construct the Tucker County Boulder Park that will feature a rock-climbing installation and future trailhead for walking trails in and around the Davis – Canaan Valley area. The Town of Davis sponsored the grant and Tucker Community Foundation facilitated the grant writing and fundraising component of the project.
“LWCF grants require a 50/50 match. By the fall of 2014 when the grant was filed, the Foundation had acquired $60,000 in general donations for the project and additional grant funds so the goal was to leverage a return of $60,000 from the LWCF program. We are very pleased that we were successful in that endeavor. This grant will support the purchase of one of the three manufactured boulders planned for the public climbing park located beside the Davis Ball Field. The plan is the place the first boulder in the spring of 2016. The boulders will be geared for all ages and abilities and the design team is working with Paradox Sports out of Boulder, Colorado to include adaptive features so that the boulders will be accessible to those with physical challenges.” Diane Hinkle, Development Director
The Boulder Park project will also create a new section of trail and trail head funded by a $120,000 WV DOT Recreational Trail grant that was awarded to the Foundation earlier this year by the Governor. E.L. Robinson Engineering has been selected to oversee the trail project. The Notice to Proceed from the state has been granted and trail construction is expected to get underway in the spring of 2016. Fundraising and grant writing efforts will continue to support the purchase of the other 2 boulders that will complete the project.
Every dollar counts! Donations are used to leverage additional grant funds maximizing the impact of each dollar that is donated. With another grant deadline looming, the push is on to raise $50,000 to leverage an equal amount, and complete the project. A donor recognition wall is planned for the park. A complete list of donors can be viewed at www.tcrocks.org and project updates are posted at www.facebook.com/tuckerboulderpark/.
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