The Scranton city park and the Grand Junction swimming pool were among 30 projects to receive funding in the Wellmark Foundation’s Community Kickstarter grant program. A total of $227,654 was awarded to initiatives intended to make Iowa communities more active or improve access to healthy foods.
Both projects received $10,000 grants.
“All of these communities and organizations are committed to improving the health and well-being of their citizens,” said Stephanie Perry, Wellmark Foundation manager. “These grants fund projects that will have a community-wide impact now and for future generations.”
These final projects were chosen out of 79 submissions because they focused on providing longer-term opportunities to make community members more active or improve access to healthy foods.
Community support, as demonstrated in online voting, was a factor in the decisions.
Scranton city officials and volunteers are raising funds to update the playground at the community center, the former playground of the Scranton school. New equipment and a fall-safe playing surface is planned. Total cost is estimated at $78,000. Nearly $12,000 has been pledged to date and several grant applications are pending.
The award to Grand Junction puts the pool renovation fund at more than $50,000, with an estimated $130,000 in needed repairs for the pool to open next summer. The pool was closed for the 2016 season.
