State Parks director says $750,000 raised of $9.8M goal

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 4/28/21

Missouri State Parks Foundation was around $750,000 into its $9.8 million fundraising campaign goal in March, with eight months remaining of Missouri State Parks’ set deadline of accepting the …

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State Parks director says $750,000 raised of $9.8M goal

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Missouri State Parks Foundation was around $750,000 into its $9.8 million fundraising campaign goal in March, with eight months remaining of Missouri State Parks’ set deadline of accepting the former Rock Island Railroad and turning it into a recreational trail.

“As of today, I don’t know the exact number (raised),” said Missouri State Parks Director Mike Sutherland about the total number of funds of the $9.8 million donated.

Funds raised by the Foundation are allocated to help offset 10 years of operational costs for the trail that State Parks wants before accepting trail manager responsibilities for the 144-mile line. “I know they have had some significant contributions. I know they are working with their consultant and do work following up on potential donors,” Sutherland said about the Foundation and Hartsook, the outside campaign fundraising company.

Missouri State Parks, which is under the direction of the Department of Natural Resources, signed an agreement in December 2019 that it would accept the former Rock Island line at the end of 2021 or when the department reached its $9.8 million fundraising goal for operational costs.

When asked how the Missouri State Parks Foundation was going to raise the remaining $9,050,000 prior to the December 31, 2021 deadline, Sutherland said he is optimistic.

“I think there has been so much support voiced over time,” he said. “There is a lot of energy being put towards reaching that goal so I am hopeful and optimistic.”

The Foundation has been working with Hartsook, a professional fundraising company, since State Parks made its announcement in 2019. Sutherland said State Parks has partnered with the Foundation and is supportive of their efforts. That is also partly why he does not know the exact number of funds raised to date.

“I don’t know if there is a list of people who have (a prerequisite requirement) before making a contribution,” Sutherland said. “My role is to provide support and information, but as far as the actual fundraising role, that is the State Parks Foundation that is holding those funds.”

Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc. Executive Director Greg Harris, has speculated the Foundation may have been slow to collect funds due to the hardship of explaining where the funds would go since monies are for operational costs. There may also be questions about what happens to the funds if State Parks does not accept the donation of the Rock Island corridor from current owner Ameren Missouri.

Sutherland answered some of those questions.

“My understanding is that Missouri State Parks Foundation is holding those funds and if the goal is met, and we are able to accept the corridor, then those funds would be available for the Rock Island Endowment Fund,” Sutherland said.

The endowment fund is a government fund that the legislature created a couple of years ago so funds would go towards the corridor and trail. If for some reason the Foundation and State Parks does not meet their $9.8 million fundraising goal or are not able to accept the trail, the Foundation keeps track of donors.

“I believe they are keeping track of the donors and would have the option for funds to be returned or another trail manager could step up if that were the case,” Sutherland said. “But I don’t think that will be the case.”

Sutherland explained that when State Parks set their fundraising goal date and potential acceptance date for the trail, they didn’t know about COVID-19 or the implications it would have.

“I think we are still optimistic that funds will be raised by that deadline, but as we get closer to the deadline, we will have to do some evaluation because we want the project to be successful,” Sutherland said. “The date was set to have adequate time to raise funds, but not go on, and on, and on. Certainly, that is a consideration if needed.”

The campaign deadline could be extended if needed.

“I think that certainly as we get closer to the end of the year, it won’t even be an issue,” Sutherland said. “If the goal is not all the way met, we will extend the time frame to provide opportunity, we will not leave it open-ended. Hopefully, we won’t have to have that discussion, but if we do, it will be a reasonable time frame.”

Sutherland emphasized that Missouri State Parks and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) want the project to be successful.

“It takes a lot of involvement to be successful and we are not trying to put up any barrier to keep it from happening but trying to make it successful,” Sutherland said.

To donate to the Rock Island Trail, visit mostateparks.com or MissouriStateParksFoundation.org.