News

The Vincennes Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded a $15,000 grant to support the construction of a new Children’s Bike Park at Chicago Park—an exciting project championed by local advocate Jordan Daniels in partnership with the department. His leadership and passion for inspiring, enabling, and encouraging healthy activities such as biking have been instrumental in bringing the project to life. “The Community Foundation was the one single thing that got us there, and we wouldn't be where we are with this project without it,” Daniels shared. The park will feature a pump track and a surrounding dirt riding loop designed especially for younger riders, creating a safe and accessible space for kids and families of all skill levels to ride and play outdoors. Daniels emphasized the importance of designing the space with today’s young riders in mind: “Kids don’t ride training wheel bikes; they ride balance bikes. They learn the balance before the pedals. Those bikes are perfect for this. If you're trying to learn to ride a balance bike in town, it’s not the safest—so to have a safe spot to go that will further their skills is huge.” This grant was made possible by the Foundation’s unrestricted grantmaking, which allows us to respond quickly to promising opportunities. “The grant from the Community Foundation was the very key thing that got us over the hump,” Daniels said. “Without it, there was no meeting the deadline to have this finished in early July.” Beyond the park itself, Daniels sees this project as a starting point for deeper community connection. “There are more opportunities to get involved in the community,” he added. “It’s not just about bikes for us, but implementing as many community outreach events as possible.” And right now, unrestricted gifts have even greater impact. Every dollar given to unrestricted funds is eligible for a 2:1 match , helping stretch community support even further. Projects like this are only possible because of your generosity. Your giving continues to strengthen communities across our region, one meaningful investment at a time.

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