Progress continues on two Friends of Lake Panorama projects.
For the past 14 months, the charity focused on raising $70,000 for new playground equipment at both Shady and Boulder Beaches. New play equipment and a bench were installed at Shady Beach last October, the same month the $70,000 goal was reached.
Additional donations of $1,700 in the last two months of 2020 made it possible to add one bench and a second spring rider to the Boulder Beach playground. The Boulder Beach play equipment was ordered in January for spring delivery.
The new spring rider is a bright green frog. Both it and the yellow bumble bee spring rider already planned will be installed in the existing playground. All other equipment will be located in a second playground south of the existing one. The new bench also will be located in this second playground.
In the existing playground, a swinging bench donated by Marcia Priestley in memory of Bill Priestley will be installed. The timing of the delivery and installation of these benches and playground equipment will be dependent on spring weather conditions.
A sign recognizing all donors of $500 or more will be installed near both playgrounds.
The latest priority project for Friends is the Lake Panorama Dog Park. Fundraising for this project began in September 2020. The goal is $50,000 to construct the park and provide all desired amenities. On February 1, the total raised for the dog park stood at $33,000.
The park will be located at the corner of Sage Trail and RV Road, near the east campground.
Plans include a 6’ high chain link fence 650’ long and 155’ wide. There will be two sections, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. A single entrance will be protected by a keyless lock, and overhead roof. Once inside this gate, users can choose a gate to either the large dog or small dog area.
The facility will be open to LPA members and their guests. A sign recognizing donors of $500 or more will be posted at the dog park.
End-of-year donations generally are higher as people make charitable contributions for tax purposes. But in this new year, dog park supporters who donated in 2020 can keep the fundraising momentum going by making a second donation that will be deductible on their 2021 tax returns. Organizers hope construction can begin in fall 2021 and the park open in spring 2022.
Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, PO Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Donations also can be made by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Currently, donations to Friends can be designated to the Lake Panorama Dog Park, the Friends general fund, any of the three beaches, or golf course beautification at either Lake Panorama National or Panorama West.