Parks board agrees to outreach on fundraising capacity for Narberth master plan

The Narberth Parks and Recreation Board voted to add outreach about fundraising capacity to its agenda as it begins implementing the borough’s recently adopted parks master plan.

At a March 11 meeting, Gene (staff member) told the board that “it will likely go through the Friends of Narberth initiatives, which provides a a transparent, fundraising container or it it it provides the borough the ability to to hold those funds and, and then use them with parks.”

Board members said the outreach should gather two kinds of information: which projects user groups would prioritize and how much fundraising capacity each organization might have. Gene said the goal is to “gauge what the interest is, which projects” and to collect input from stakeholders that participated in the master-plan process.

Members discussed survey logistics and phrasing. Several said donors often prefer to give to a named project rather than an undesignated fund; one member suggested presenting options so groups know how funds would be used. Tom DelMonte, who volunteered to move the item onto the agenda, and other board members agreed staff or board could send a short email or simple online form to invited park-user groups.

Gene said he would confirm which organization should distribute the outreach and follow up with staff; the board asked him to return with any staff guidance before the next meeting. The board’s motion to add fundraising outreach to the agenda passed by voice vote.

The board plans separate follow-ups with invited park users to confirm schedules and to ask about both program priorities and fundraising interest.