Polk County Conservation creates its own nonprofit to help local recreation

State of play: The new foundation operates with its own governance board and a full-time staffer whose job is to connect donors with the specific parks, programs and projects they care about, whether that's Easter Lake, wildlife conservation or recreation.

How it started: The county's longtime fundraising partner, the Great Outdoors Foundation, has broadened its focus to regional and statewide water quality, like the ICON Water Trails project, leaving a gap for smaller, day-to-day conservation needs, Lown says.

• Previously, residents who wanted to donate would funnel money through the Great Outdoors Foundation and flag it for PCC.
• They proposed that PCC get its own nonprofit and continue partnering with the Great Outdoors Foundation for administrative support, like payroll and human resources.

The big picture: PCC has been financially stable in recent years, buoyed by support from the County Board of Supervisors and the Polk County Water and Land Legacy Bond, which makes up to $65 million available for special projects through roughly 2032.

What's next: The foundation's top priority is accessible recreation, including sensory rooms and accessible restroom upgrades.