by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
“The Community Chest is less than $12,000 from reaching its goal,” Community Chest co-chair Rick Duncan told the membership at the Feb. 17 Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) dinner meeting. Members also discussed maintenance needs at Elliott Park, reviewed proposed bylaw amendments and learned about the work of the Friends of South Cumberland to expand and sustain South Cumberland State Park.
The Community Chest funds an array of area programs, with the large majority youth-oriented. Duncan encouraged donors who gave last year but who have not yet contributed this year to make a donation. “If we received donations from those 80 people,” Duncan said, “we would exceed the $100,000 goal by more than $3,000.” [See adjacent story for details.]
Stephen Burnett, chair of the parks committee for SCA, called for volunteers to make routine weekly maintenance inspections at Elliott Park to comply with insurance requirements.
Cameron Swallow said completing the duties on the check list “takes about five minutes.” To volunteer contact Burnett by email to <fortheparks@gmail.com>.
A question was raised about the surface material in the park hampering wheelchair access, since Elliott Park is supposed to be an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant facility. Burnett will check on ADA surface material specifications.
Civic Association President Kiki Beavers said several important items will be voted on at the April 20 meeting: the budget and officers for 2016–17, as well as amendments to the bylaws. Amendments under consideration redefine the board of directors and presidential succession, allow for email voting and prohibit discrimination based on gender. For full details about the proposed changes, go to <sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.
Traditionally, the Civic Association celebrates the Person of the Year at the April meeting. Nominations are being accepted through March 21, Beavers said. To make a nomination send an email to <sewaneecivic@gmail.com>.
Vice president Lynn Stubblefield introduced the evening’s speaker, Latham Davis, president of the Friends of South Cumberland.
A longtime Sewanee resident, Davis joined the Friends board in 1990. At that time, the focus was on acquiring easements and tracts of land from private property owners to protect the Savage Gulf and Fiery Gizzard Cove regions of the park from residential development.
Through the Saving Great Spaces campaign, the Friends subsequently raised more than $600,000 and received $2 million in grants. A $25,000 grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation will help fund the Fiery Gizzard trail reroute, made necessary when a landowner closed off a privately owned section of the trail.
The Friends also do education in area elementary schools and help with renovation of visitor centers and ranger houses. Partnering with the Monteagle Assembly, the Friends funded the building of a ranger house near the parking area of a trailhead where theft was occurring.
“South Cumberland State Park is one of the most biodiverse areas in the United States,” Davis said.
The 25,000 acre park consists of holdings from Cowan to Gruetli-Laager. The park system originated in 1971, when Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn took an interest in the region.
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