Waukee Foundation Inc

THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED TO PRESERVE AND GROW A HEALTHY WAUKEE COMMUNITY. WE DO THAT BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO AGENCIES AND PROJECTS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WAUKEE AREA AND FOCUS ON THE KEYS TO GOOD LIVING. OUR AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE: COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES, HEALTHY LIVING, PUBLIC ART, PARKS & RECREATION, ALL-INCLUSIVE AREAS, TRAILS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES. WE ARE AN ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER RUN ORGANIZATION, WITH LOW NON-PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSE NEEDS. DONATIONS TO THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AND LASTING IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS:--ALL-INCLUSIVE AREAS PROJECT--THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION RAISED FUNDS TO ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MIRACLE LEAGUE BALL PARK, INCLUSIVE LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES EPIC PLAYGROUND, AND ADA COMPLIANT FISHING PIER IN DALLAS COUNTY. MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELDS OPERATE AT CAPACITY OF ROUGHLY 250 CHILDREN IN LEAGUES. GIVEN THE IDENTIFIED SPECIAL NEEDS LOCAL POPULATION OF ALMOST 1,200 CHILDREN, THE NEED FOR THIS FACILITY IS VERY REAL. A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DOES NOT OUTGROW THE NEEDS; THEY BECOME ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THERE ARE AT LEAST AS MANY ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH SPCECIAL NEEDS AS THERE ARE CHILDREN, AND THIS COMPLEX WILL PROVIDE ADULT LEAGUES ACCESS AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIAL USES FOR THE FIELD. AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELD AS WELL. THIS PLAYGROUND OFFERS ADA COMPLIANT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS THE SOFT SURFACE NEEDED TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND OTHERS ENJOYING THE FACILITY IN THE EVENT OF A FALL. ANYONE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES IS ABLE TO ENJOY THE PLAYGROUND, EVEN ROLLING A WHEELCHAIR ONTO SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE GOAL OF THE PLAYGROUND IS TO HAVE EVERYONE BE ABLE TO PLAY TOGETHER, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES.AN ADA COMPLIANT FISHING PIER IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT, AND IS LOCATED NEAR THE PLAYGROUND AND MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELD. IT IS BUILT ON A 14-ACRE POND, STOCKED BY THE DNR, AND IS ALSO A BIG DRAW AND HELPS TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVENESS AS WELL. THE FISHING PIER ALLOWS ANYONE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER TO PULL RIGHT UP AND FISH. THERE ARE ALSO ADA COMPLIANT RESTROOMS AND PARKING LOCATED WITH THESE THREE FACILITIES.THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION RAISED THE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECTS. UPON COMPLETION, THE CITY OF WAUKEE TOOK OWNERSHIP AND OPERATIONS OF THE FACILITIES WITHIN THE WAUKEE PARKS & RECREATION, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LONG-TERM ONGOING UPKEEP AND PROGRAMS. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PROJECT'S LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE ALL INCLUSIVE AREAS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN JULY 2022 AS "TRIUMPH PARK"--WAUKEE RAILROAD PERGOLA "IN THE SHADOW OF THE RAILS"--THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION RAISED $1.1 MILLION FOR THE CREATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE WAUKEE RAILROAD PERGOLA IN THE SHADOW OF THE RAILS. EACH SUMMER, THOUSANDS OF BIKING AND TRAIL USERS VISIT THE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION AT THE RACCOON RIVER VALLEY TRAILHEAD LOCATED IN WAUKEE. THE COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE, WHICH OPENED IN 2018, WAS DESIGNED BY DAVID DAHLQUIST AND RDG PLANNING & DESIGN AND FEATURES RED AND WHITE COLUMNS TO VISUALLY ECHO FORMER RAILWAY SIGNAGE. THE PROJECT CELEBRATES THE RAILROAD HISTORY OF WAUKEE, AND FEATURES LED LIGHTS TO MAKE NIGHTTIME RIDING ENJOYABLE.CURRENT/ONGOING:--LONG-TERM ENDOWMENT--THE WAUKEE BETTERMENT FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS AND AWARDS TO ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS WAUKEE AND DALLAS COUNTY.