History
The Belvidere Township Park District Board of Commissioners wanted to create a not for profit foundation that would operate separately from the park board to augment the facilities of and to support the goals of the park district. Each of the five park board members selected three individuals to serve on the first foundation board plus one representative of the park board along with the Executive Director. In July 1992, the Belvidere Park District Foundation was established as a 501 (C) (3) tax exempt charitable organization.
The first acquisition was Red Horse Bend, a 20.67 acre parcel of land located along the Kishwaukee River and Piscasaw Creek, South of Lawrenceville Road in Bonus Township. The Belvidere Park District Foundation continued to partner with the park district and other charitable organizations to acquired property and enhance recreational opportunities for the benefit of the general public until 2002 when the foundation changed its name to the Parks and Conservation Foundation. This name change better reflected the activities of the foundation as it works to carry out the recreational, open space and conservation goals of the Belvidere Park District and the Boone County Conservation District. The foundation bylaws were also changed to provide the Boone County Conservation District a board member and its Executive Director membership on the foundation board.
The foundation has been very successful at achieving its goal of land acquisition as it currently holds title to eleven properties worth $1,829,609.00 on 150.51 acres. All of the properties are leased to the Belvidere Park District or the Boone County Conservation District for maintenance purposes.
Please check the Foundation Projects and Bob’s Park for additional information on the foundation history.