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We thank these organizations for their support
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Fund Raising Updates
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09.24.07 |
Oregon Tourism Commission awards BPTA a $10,000 matching grant
Through its $100,000 matching grant program, the Oregon Tourism Commission strives to encourage economic growth and enhance the quality of life in Oregon through tourism. BPTA applied to receive one of these 10 matching grants in 2007 and on September 24, 2007 was notified that its proposal was approved. The $10,000 grant is designated for promoting the Deschutes Paddle Trail through the publication and statewide distribution of the Deschutes River Guide and Lakes Map. Support letters for our application from the Central Oregon Visitors Association and the Bend Visitors and Convention Bureau highlighted the economic and community benefits that the Deschutes Paddle Trail will have on Bend and all of Central Oregon. BPTA will match this grant with REI’s $12,000 grant and a recent $500 gift from Ouzel Outfitters.
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07.01.07 |
BPTA to receive $71,000 grant
In July, BPTA was notified that its grant proposal for funding through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) ranked 5th out of 36 applications from non motorized sporting organizations. A statewide volunteer committee reviews all proposals and makes funding recommendations to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department which administers the grant process. Because funding for the program originates at the Department of Transportation, the state committee’s recommendations must be approved at the Federal level. BPTA is awaiting that final approval and expects to hear this fall. The $71,000 grant will be used for signs at access points on National Forest Service land along the Deschutes and the 9 Cascade Lakes that comprise the Deschutes Paddle Trail. Funding will also be available to design and print a River Guide and Lakes Map as well as to put these maps on the BPTA web site.
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09.14.06 |
National Parks Service Approves BPTA Application
On September 14, 2006, the National Parks Service approved BPTA’s application asking for support to build a coalition among major land owners along the Deschutes River, Little Deschutes River, and the high Cascade Lakes. Representatives from the BLM, BMP&R, Oregon State Parks, National Forest Service, and the National Parks Service have agreed to participate. This group will work closely with BPTA’s Paddle Trail Committee and will provide advice, expertise, and other technical resources that will assist in the successful establishment of the Paddle Trail. Dan Miller, who has helped with the development of other river trails in the Northwest, will be the NPS representative. His experience and ties with other agencies should help accelerate the trail development process.
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08.23.06 |
BPTA Receives Grant from REI
On August 23, 2006, Denise Wallace presented BPTA with a $12,000 check for the design and printing of the Deschutes Paddle Trail Guide. This generous grant came as a result of two REI employees nominating BPTA for a grant, followed by the national office inviting BPTA to submit a grant proposal. REI stores make awards to local non profits that support conservation of natural resources and increase opportunities for outdoor recreation. BPTA will use the grant to publish a guide for the Paddle Trail that will enable trail users to easily and safely access the portion of the trail that is appropriate for their level of paddling skill, experience, and interest.
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06.01.06 |
Community Challenge Campaign
The Bend Paddle Trail Alliance has received a challenge grant from an anonymous donor who is challenging the community’s paddlers, outdoor enthusiasts and businesses to support the development of the Deschutes Paddle Trail. For every dollar the community contributes, the donor will match it with a dollar up to $17,000.
2006 is the critical year for the trail’s development. Volunteers are beginning to survey and map the river and lakes to be included in the Deschutes Paddle Trail and will be publishing a guide for future trail users. This guide will be designed to help paddlers have a safe and responsible trip on the Paddle Trail by providing them with information on access points, hazards or possible portages, difficulty ratings, location of parking, rest rooms, camping etc.
At the same time, progress is being made on the possible development of whitewater play areas. The recent approval of the contract with REP will enable them to begin their study of the river and make recommendations on safety improvements and possible locations for whitewater play features. That work will be followed by more extensive engineering and conceptual design plans for safe, accessible, and environmentally friendly whitewater enhancements within the UGB.
The development and design phase of the paddle trail is costly and will require the community’s involvement and financial support. We anticipate the printing of the Paddle Trail Guide alone to cost approximately $25,000 - $35,000. The engineering study and design of the whitewater features will be at least $100,000.
So if you want a paddle trail with whitewater play features in Bend, we are asking you to make a donation now. Not only will your gift assist with the project’s costs in 2006, but it will also be matched by the challenge grant.
As an additional incentive, our supporters at Bend Living Magazine will give you a free annual subscription to their magazine with your $150 gift to the challenge campaign. We are asking that you contribute what you can today by sending your check to BPTA, PO Box 781, Bend, OR 97709.
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04.24.06 |
Recreational Trails Grant Program
On April 24, 2006 BPTA received $1,000 from the ACA/L.L. Bean Club Fostered Stewardship Grant Program. This award is designated for the publication of the Deschutes Paddle Trail Guide and will be used to cover the costs of the initial design and layout. On February 1, 2006, BPTA submitted an application to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for a grant from the Recreational Trails Grant Program. The $20,000 grant would have been used to design and publish Guides for the Paddle Trail being established on the Deschutes River, Little Deschutes River and nine of the High Cascade Lakes. Out of the 36 applications this year our application ranked 17th. Unfortunately there was only funding for the top 15. BPTA will reapply next year and expand the application to include the cost of signage and other items needed to develop the paddle trail.
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03.01.06 |
Fund Raising Campaign for local support
Anxious to receive the balance of the recent anonymous gift, the BPTA Board will conduct a challenge campaign during the first half of 2006 to raise funds from the paddling community and local businesses. These gifts will be used in the planning and developmental stages for the Paddle Trail and will be applied toward expenses such as the engineering study to identify the best site(s) for the various whitewater play features and other improvements that will be required to develop a Paddle Trail for everyone.
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02.17.06 |
$34,000 Anonymous Gift
On February 17, 2006, BPTA received a $17,000 check representing half of a $34,000 anonymous gift made to BPTA in support of the development of a Paddle Trail. The transmittal letter with the check indicated that the donor intends the second $17,000 of the donation to be used as a challenge grant and will be released when BPTA raises $17,000 in additional funds in support of the project. Because the donation is anonymous, the Trust Company from New York could not even indicate if the gift was from an individual or business but stated that the details of the “challenge grant” will be sent to BPTA shortly. The BPTA Board is greatly encouraged by this gift and believes it indicates the kind of support that the Paddle Trail will attract as the project moves forward.
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12.06.05 |
Bend Metro Parks Board Supports BPTA
On December 6, 2005 Karl Koenig, on behalf of the BPTA Board, gave a presentation to the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District's Board. The purpose of the presentation was to update the district board on BPTA's accomplishments of 2005, plans for 2006, and to ask for their support. The parks and recreation board was pleased with the presentation, very complimentary, and impressed with the progress made to date. BMPRD staff then proposed supporting the initial feasibility studies through funding provided to BMPRD from the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau. The board supported their suggestion and recommended they investigate this proposed funding opportunity. On January 20, 2006 the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau provided BMP&RD a $25,000 grant to fund the initial feasibility study. This study will determine the potential for placing white water features within the Urban Growth Boundary along the Deschutes River. The study should be conducted in early 2006 and will be a critical part of the presentation to the district’s board in mid year.
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