Friends Of Missoula Parks Inc

FRIENDS OF MISSOULA PARKS, INC. (FMP) WAS FORMED IN 2002 BY MISSOULA RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO MISSOULAS PARK AND RECREATION AMENITIES. FMP IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION THAT CAN ACCEPT TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS. AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, FMP IS ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR FOUNDATION GRANTS. FMPS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE PARKS, RECREATION, CONSERVATION LANDS, AND FORESTRY IN THE COMMUNITY OF MISSOULA, MONTANA AND THE SURROUNDING AREA BY RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS OF THE SOCIAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS PROVIDED BY PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION. FRIENDS OF MISSOULA PARKS WILL DO SO BY EXERCISING ALL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF MONTANA.SINCE 2002, INDIVIDUAL FMP BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MANAGED PROJECTS TO ENHANCE MISSOULA PARK AND RECREATION AMENITIES, INCLUDING PLACING BEAR-PROOF GARBAGE CANISTERS IN SEVERAL MISSOULA PARKS; CONSTRUCTING A BRIDGE OVER RATTLESNAKE CREEK NEAR THE TERMINUS OF DUNCAN DRIVE; BUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE TRAILS ON MT. SENTINEL; CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE AND TRAIL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RATTLESNAKE VALLEY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA (RUX); AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MISSOULA BIKES PARK PROJECTS AT SYRINGA PARK AND BELLEVUE PARK. FMP SERVES AS A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR GROUPS WISHING TO GAIN NON-PROFIT BENEFITS WHO DO NOT HAVE THEIR OWN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. THESE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENTS ALLOW GROUPS TO PROVIDE TAX BENEFITS TO THEIR DONORS. GROUPS WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM SPONSORSHIP INCLUDE FRIENDS OF FORT MISSOULA REGIONAL PARK, THE ALL-ABILITIES PLAYGROUND, TREES FOR MISSOULA, MISSOULA PICKLEBALL PROJECT, AND THE MISSOULA COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT. FMP IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF VOLUNTEER DIRECTORS WHO EACH SERVE THREE-YEAR TERMS. FMP BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ENGINEERS, DOCTORS, HOUSEWIVES, LAWYERS, SCIENTISTS, RETIREES, AND EDUCATORS, AMONG OTHER PROFESSIONS. FRIENDS OF MISSOULA PARKS ACTIVE PROJECTS/SPONSORSHIPS1. PARTNERS IN PARKS (2012 TO PRESENT). A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE MISSOULA PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF MISSOULA TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT INCREASED DEMANDS ON PARKS &RECREATION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF RECREATION FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. PROJECT CONTACT, DONNA GAUKLER.2. ALL-ABILITIES PLAYGROUND (2011 TO PRESENT). AN ALL-ABILITIES PLAYGROUND EFFORT AT MCCORMICK PARK. FMP SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THIS PROJECT AND DOES NOT DO DIRECT FUNDRAISING PRESENTLY. PROJECT CONTACT, JENNY MONTGOMERY.3. RATTLESNAKE/ UNIVERSITY CONNECTION SYSTEM (2010 TO PRESENT). A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE CITY OF MISSOULA TO EXTEND THE NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL SYSTEM AND PROVIDE A SAFER PATHWAY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY FOOTBRIDGE (VAN BUREN STREET FOOTBRIDGE), DOWNTOWN, AND THE RATTLESNAKE IN TWO PHASES. THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY FMP DONATIONS AND A FEDERAL GRANT SECURED BY FMP. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A BRIDGE OVER RATTLESNAKE CREEK NEAR PINE STREET AND THE FIRE STATION, A TRAIL ON LAND LEASED TO THE CITY BY MONTANA RAIL LINK4. GREENOUGH PARK FOOTBRIDGE (2010 TO PRESENT). NO ACTIVITY AT PRESENT.5. FRIENDS OF FORT MISSOULA REGIONAL PARK (2006 PRESENT). FMP SERVES AS A FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THIS GROUP, WHICH HAS TRANSITIONED TO A SUPPORT GROUP FOR FMRP. 6. TREES FOR MISSOULA (2012 PRESENT). FMP IS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THIS GROUP, WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT THE URBAN FOREST OF THE CITY OF MISSOULA7. KEATON MILES FUND/HEAVEN COULDNT WAIT (2011 PRESENT) FMP SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE MILES FAMILY WHO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN OUTDOOR PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, ATHLETICS, AND CLOTHING TO SUPPORT SUCH ACTIVITIES IN HONOR OF THEIR SON. 8. PICKLEBALL COURTS (2015 PRESENT) FMP IS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY AND HELPED RAISE FUNDS TO BUILD 6 PICKLEBALL COURTS AT FMRP9. MISSOULA BICYCLE PARKS PROJECT (2017 PRESENT) FMP IS FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF SYRINGA AND BELLEVUE BIKE PARKS, WITH A FOCUS ON BELLEVUE.10. MISSOULA COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT. (2020 PRESENT). A PROJECT TO REALIZE THE 30-YEAR DREAM OF A COMMUNITY CENTER TO SERVE AS A MEETING PLACE FOR THE ARTS, LEISURE, AND RECREATION.COMPLETED PROJECTS1. U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION ALL CONDITIONS FIELDS GRANT 20082. MOUNT SENTINEL TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS 2006 ($10,000.00 REI GRANT)3. BRIDGE OVER THE RATTLESNAKE 2004 (U.S. FOREST SERVICE GRANT)4. BEAR-PROOF GARBAGE BINS IN GREENOUGH PARK5. RUX PHASE I & II6. FMRP PHASE I & II7. PICKLEBALL PROJECT8. RATTLESNAKE TO UNIVERSITY CONNECTION (RUX)9. 44 RANCH PARK PROJECTFISCAL SPONSORSHIPS/SUB-ACCOUNTS1. FRIENDS OF FORT MISSOULA REGIONAL PARK 2. WASHINGTON FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR PARKS & RECREATION3. PARTNERS IN PARKS4. ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND5. MISSOULA CHILDREN IN NATURE MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER6. KEATON MILES HEAVEN COULDNT WAIT FUND7. DUNCAN BRIDGE8. GREENOUGH PARK9. TREES FOR MISSOULA10. PICKLEBALL11. MISSOULA COMMUNITY CENTER