Efforts to secure the future of a local park are moving forward with the recent creation of the Friends of Preston Park Foundation non-profit organization.
Butler Township contracted with local consultant John Righetti in November of 2018 to help establish a 501c-3 and fundraising efforts. Assistant Butler Township Manager Cheryl McNeill has been very involved with getting the foundation in place to address needs.
“This foundation can support the conservation of the park, and the development needs of the park,” McNeil said. “There are infrastructure issues there, with the pond and the dam. Those things cost a lot of money.”
Five members of the seven member board are already in place including acting president Ken DeFurio, acting treasurer Gary Pinkerton, and acting secretary Jennifer Roxbury Poulsen as well as Township commissioner liaisons Fred Vero and Jim Lokhaiser, Jr.
Preston Park does have a trust put in place by the Preston family however the property does not generate revenue and is not able to be maintained using only the interest earned by the investment.