County Parks & Rec gets grant from Duke Energy Foundation

Mark LaBarr, Duke Energy’s Community Relations Director (left) presents a check for $14,500 to Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Allen Patterson inside the park’s popular Cool Creek Nature Center. (Photo provided)

Parks program will take nature “on the road” . . .

Duke Energy Foundation has awarded Hamilton County Parks and Recreation $14,500, as part of its Environmental Project Grant program. The funds will be applied toward the development of a $34,000 nature education trailer.

The custom, mobile “nature center” will be transported and then staged at multiple park and community events throughout Hamilton County, with the intention of inviting guests in the trailer to experience interactive and hands-on nature education.

Members of the community that may not otherwise have access to such resources, or haven’t thought to visit a nature center in the past, will benefit from Duke Energy Foundation’s generosity and this innovative collaboration with Hamilton County Parks.

“We are extremely grateful to Duke Energy Foundation for this funding that gets us much closer to completing this special project that will advance our initiative to provide quality nature education at venues throughout the county that traditionally draw large audiences,” said Al Patterson, Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Director.

“Supporting this project is a good example of how the Duke Energy Foundation contributes to the health and vitality of the communities we serve,” said Mark LaBarr, Duke Engery’s Community Relations Director for Hamilton County. “We’re honored to help support our children’s education with this project.”

To learn more about Hamilton County Parks, visit MyHamiltonCountyParks.com.

About Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of communities where its customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts across its seven-state territory.  More Information about the Duke Energy Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.