The Friends of Palisades-Kepler State Park are honored to be the beneficiaries of a $1,000 grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Mount Vernon Community Betterment Today Fund. The Friend’s board has committed the funds to Phase I of the kitchen-update project: updating the present electrical system. The Friends will match those funds as needed.

The establishment of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Mount Vernon Community Betterment Today Fund means that patrons will be able to directly donate to the the Friends of Palisades-Kepler State Park. The Friends are in the process of creating a website, which will have a link enabling donations directly to our account at Hills Bank.

With Phase I funded, the Friends will begin raising funds for Phase II of the multi-year kitchen update. Phase II includes adding a new, stainless steel counter top, an electric stove top, and open-faced cabinets in the cooking area.

Fund raising for Phase II is already underway. Gary’s Foods hosted The Friends for their Round Up Campaign, giving us a great start. The Friends will continue with our other annual fundraising efforts: First Day Hike, Pals for the Park 5K Fun Run at Bass Farms, and the new collaboration with Bijou Movie Theatre – The Paddling Film Festival.

Hats off to the local area communities for continuing to support The Pal. None of these projects would have been possible without you. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@FriendsofPalisadesKepler) for up-to-date information.