Community Foundation Will Double All New Gifts to Support Public Recreation Project
ADAMS — A $30,000 Community Foundation matching grant will help the Adams Revitalization Committee reach its fundraising goal for a new playground and community park in the heart of the village off Wardwell Street. All new gifts made by individuals, businesses, and organizations in support of the project will be doubled, up to $30,000.
“The community has done so much to get this far, and we are pleased to be able to help move toward the completion of the initial phase of this project,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “This endeavor is something to celebrate and reminds us of the importance of partnerships to make good things happen.”
Adams Community Park Committee Member Karen Denny said announcement of the matching grant from the Community Foundation “came at the perfect time.”
“The committee was working hard to close the funding gap to complete the project when we received the news,” Mrs. Denny said. “Around the same time, we received word that site work would soon begin, and playground equipment was on its way.”
She added that the matching grant is “a great opportunity for businesses and individuals to support a community park, especially when every donation will be doubled.”
“Regardless of the amount donated, it counts and is appreciated,” she said. “The Community Foundation plays an important role in supporting nonprofit organizations and community projects across the region. The Adams Community Park committee is especially grateful for its generous support.”
New playground equipment arrived at the park this week. A groundbreaking celebration is slated for 10 a.m. Friday, May 3, at the site of the former Adams Elementary School. The playground portion of the project is expected to be complete by early this summer.
Several Adams residents formed a small committee in 2019 in partnership with the Adams Revitalization Committee to embark on the project. The Village of Adams acquired two acres of land adjacent to the former elementary school with a vision to create a playground and central location for community recreation.
Through the pandemic, a volunteer subcommittee persevered with its planning, advocating for the project in the community, initiating fundraising and developing plans to bring the project to life.
They collaborated with a local architectural firm on a two-phase project plan for the site. Phase one focus-es on building an ADA-compliant playground, pathways to other play areas, public seating, and tree plantings. Phase two includes public walkways, a community pavilion and open areas for recreational play, concerts, and other events.
The playground and its complementary recreational spaces will positively impact thousands of children and families across the southern Jefferson County region.
The Community Foundation has been a strategic partner as the project has evolved.
In 2022, the Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council awarded a $4,500 grant to support architectural and de-sign planning for the park. Grant funding helped complete research and community outreach to engage the community in the project.
That same year, the Six Town Community Fund, a charitable affiliate of the Community Foundation, awarded a $3,250 grant to help purchase new playground equipment.
To join in support of the Adams Community Park project and double your gift, send checks to: Adams Revitalization Committee, P.O. Box 167, Adams, NY 13605, and include Adams Community Park on the memo line. Visit adamscommunitypark.com to learn more about the project and see its progress.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.