July 3, 2018
Contact: Nancy Lee Gomer, Marketing Coordinator, 636-949-7535, or 636-795-1137, ngomer@sccmo.org
St. Charles County, Missouri – The St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department has announced the establishment of a foundation to assist with the department’s mission of protecting and conserving the county’s natural and historic resources. Named the St. Charles County Parks Foundation, it is led by an eight-member board that will secure land donations, charitable contributions and promote volunteer activities.
The board members, who will serve either one-, two- or three-year terms, are eligible to serve up to nine years. The group had its first meeting in June. Members are as follows:
- Ruth Mellor, chairman
- Nancy Matheny, Klaris Thomson & Schroeder, vice-chairman
- Tony Caruso Cracchiolo, Bike Shop Café
- Hanh Nguyen, Krilogy Financial
- Robert Pecoraro Jr., Lindenwood University
- Debra Erickson, retired, Bi-State Development Agency
- Ashley Ling, Mueller Porst, LC, treasurer
- Tom Borich, Edward Jones
“We are fortunate to have a group of such dedicated, knowledgeable professionals to serve on our first St. Charles County Parks Foundation Board,” says Parks Director Ryan Graham. “This foundation is the key to our future growth and development as a regional parks system, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of leaders.”
Goals of the foundation are to create to heightened awareness of County parks and entities, advocate use of the parks, create and support a sustainable coalition of partners, nurture an appreciation of a healthy lifestyle and outdoor recreation, and provide financial support for parks developed and operated by St. Charles County.
The St. Charles County Parks system began in 1997, late for a county parks system as most were developing in the early to mid-1900s. Voters elected that year to pass a dedicated use tax that created the regional parks system. The need for a Foundation to secure additional property and donations is evident as the county continues to grow and the Parks Department seeks to acquire park acreage to ensure that greenspace is protected for the regional parks system voters wanted.
There currently are 12 County parks in operation with three more opening this year. The newest parks are Riverside Landing, between Kampville Drive and Huster Road along the Mississippi River in Portage des Sioux; The Park at New Melle Lakes in Wentzville; and Veteran’s Tribute Park, between Kisker and Pitman Hill roads off Highway 94 in Weldon Spring.
The new foundation is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and must abide by the requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit corporation with a charitable purpose. All donations received by the foundation support the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department and are used to develop new and exciting recreational amenities for the County’s parks. To learn more about the foundation and how you can become involved or donate, call the St. Charles County Parks & Recreation Department at 636-949-7535.
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