Fulton County Parks and Recreation Board President Bill Walsh works on mowing Prairie Edge Nature Park. Photos provided by Bill Walsh.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — For the second year in a row, Fulton County Parks will benefit from a Giving Tuesday initiative.

Now through Tuesday, Nov. 28, any funds donated for the parks’ endowment fund through the Fulton County Community Foundation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000 via the generosity of RapidView of Rochester. People may give by calling (574) 223-2227 or visiting nicf.org and clicking on the “Giving Tuesday” link under “Fulton County.”

Fulton County Parks and Recreation Board President Bill Walsh said RapidView upped the ante this year by agreeing to match more funds as it only matched up to $5,000 last year.

The fund is meant for maintenance of all of the four county parks. Those consist of: Prairie Edge Nature Park, 1350 W. Third St., Rochester; Germany Bridge County Park, 4213 N. 375W, Rochester; Aubbeenaubbee Landing, 7806 W. Olson Road, Rochester; and Richland Restoration Nature Park, 478 E. 450N, Rochester.

The latter includes the county’s fairly new Bark Park for dogs. Other amenities at the parks include walking trails, access for boating and fishing and picnic space.

Walsh noted Tippecanoe River access at several of the parks is particularly important.

“A lot of people don’t realize how many people float the river. I mean it’s used a lot in the summertime, and it gets to be more every year it seems like,” he said.

In addition, Germany Bridge has the Germany Bridge Meeting Center, which may be rented for events. People may do by contacting Walsh at (574) 835-3601 or emailing [email protected].

The park board meets at the meeting center at 5 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Along with Walsh, others serving on the board are Vice President Mary Chesser and Mark Kepler, Sheila Kindig, Eric Schlarf, Austin Prater and Jessica Riffle.

There’s also the Friends of the Fulton County Parks and Recreation Department, which helps fundraise for the parks and maintain the Bark Park.

Volunteers for the parks are always welcomed, said Walsh, including those in church or school groups or clubs. People may reach out to Walsh at the above phone number or email address to inquire about doing so.

More may be learned about the parks by visiting the Fulton County Parks’ Facebook page.

Flowers are shown at Prairie Edge Nature Park.

Picnic spots are shown along the Tippecanoe River at Germany Bridge County Park.

A look at Richland Restoration Nature Park.