PARC NEWS PARC Project Goes Under Construction Board of Supervisors Vote 6-0 in Favor of the Crozet PARC Project
Thanks to the countless hours of many professional and community volunteers, donors and supporters, Crozet PARC will open the first year-round aquatics and recreation center in Albemarle County open to all.Contracts are being signed and construction will start the end of January with a May 2012 completion date.The YMCA will operate the summer pool and renovated recreation center (the present community building) starting May 2012.In September of 2012, the dome will be erected over the summer pool for year-round aquatics providing recreational and competitive swim opportunities for all!
Special thanks to Zobrist Law Firm for providing TJ Aldous, our pro bono attorney to represent the project and our park. His integrity, commitment and dedication to this project have been invaluable. He has been a true friend to the Park.
We also owe a big thanks to our Board of Supervisors.They stood behind our project, supported us through the reallocation process and applauded the community and volunteers for making this project possible.They have also allowed Crozet to become a model to promote community volunteerism in creating similar facilities and public/private partnerships throughout our County.
Community donations and support: Over $400,000 for the dome or aquatics and over $100,000 to date in in-kind professional services, with many more products and services being donated during the construction process. County donation: $200,000 for the completion of the community building renovations.
Be proud Crozet!
Community Meets Match Challenge Again!
During the month of December, the community rallied together and met a match challenge in support of the Crozet PARC (Park Aquatics and Recreation Center).After learning of a Park shortfall in funds due to the Crozet pool re-plastering this past spring, a donor came forth with a $10,000 gift and $10,000 match if the PARC were able to raise $20,000 by year’s end.This match was presented to the community and in less than two weeks, gifts large and small came pouring in, exceeding the match challenge!The first community challenge of $200,000 was met in September of 2011. With the recent County donation of $200,000, Crozet PARC will become a reality. But we will be starting with a bare bones operation, with the hopes to add numerous amentities and improvements as future funds are received.
Donations continue to accepted and can be mailed to:
Crozet PARC PO Box 171 Crozet, VA 22932 or you can make a donation on-line
A year and a half ago, Crozet PARC set out to raise $400,000 for the first phase of a year round aquatics and recreation center.
Funding begin with a community challenge of $200,000 from the Claudius Crozet Park Board, Inc.
In the past year and a half the Crozet PARC has met it's match with the following contributions:
Party for the PARC fundraising event yields $51,000 Perry Foundation offers $60,000 match grant (met in Sept 2011) "Salute to Swing" Dance and Independence Day celebration brings in $10,000 King Solomon's Masonic Lodge #194 gives $3500 Inez Bishop Trust Fund gives $3000 Anonymous Local Business gives $10,000 matching grant Anonymous Foundations give $20,000 CYAC YMCA swim team raises over $3500 Local business US Joiner gives $2000 Local Business Green Olive Tree gives $2000 Family Donation pledges equal $13,000 Community Donations total $24,000 with over $1800 donated in memory of long time resident and friend, Larry Ehrenberg ________________________________________________________________
What's Next?
Last spring the Park Board made the decision to re-plaster the pool. This was costly but needed to prepare for the upcoming dome. However, in making this decision, the Park came up short in providing their portion of the dome project (the other $200,000) which has been raised through the success of the semi-annual Crozet Arts and Crafts Fair.
The PARC committee made the decision to help fill this gap by continuing to fundraise and with the help of donors and community members, have once again succeeded in raising funds in a very short time period.
With the help of many community professionals volunteering their time and expertise, we have been able to turn a multi-year, multi-phase 1.2 million dollar facility into a two year $600,000 project yeilding us both an indoor aquatics and recreation center by September of 2012. If all goes as planned, we will have the $200,000 needed for the recreation center in January of 2012 and will start construction a few weeks later with a completion date of May 2012!
TENNIS ANYONE?
After many years, tennis is returning to Crozet Park and for the first time, Quickstart Tennis for children is being introduced. To learn more please click on the press release.
In August, The United States Tennis Association in conjunction with Quickstart Tennis of Central Virginia awarded the Park a $25,000 grant toward three new Quickstart Tennis courts for the Park. In the past couple months additional grants have been awarded, providing enough funds to put in Quickstart Tennis courts this spring. Next... full size tennis courts!
If you are interested in finding out more about possible tennis programs in the Park or would like to get involved in bringing tennis back into the park, please contact Lynda Harrill at quickstartcentral@comcast.net
Community Independence Day Celebrations brings family fun and fundraising success!
Salute to Swing, a 17 piece big band started the festivities on a Friday night with a swing dance in the Park. They brought in dance instructors, great music, raffles, refreshments, and local beer and wine. Money was raised and fun was had by all!
Saturday, the Crozet Fire Department, Downtown Crozet Association and Crozet Park came together to provide an Independence Day celebration to remember. The annual Fireman's Parade started the festivities, followed by great food, local bands LOCK JAW and SECOND DRAW, kids activities, a "big ball" tournament between the firefighters and Peachtree coaches, a community business expo, raffles and amazing fireworks.... all to benefit the PARC project!
PARTY FOR THE PARC Our First Annual Fundraiser was a huge success!
We would like to thank all our donors and the community for making this possible. Special thanks to l'etoile Restaurant, Couture Design and Transdigital Printing.
The goal of the Crozet PARC (Crozet Park Aquatics and Recreation Center) is to serve the community by turning the park into a year round destination.
The new Crozet Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (Crozet PARC) will be the first of its kind in Albemarle County. It will provide affordable year round swimming and fitness programming for families in the western part of the county and beyond. Our fundraising campaign will provide a 20,000 square foot year round facility offering aquatics, recreation, fitness and community space for seniors, adults, teens and kids.
A removable pool dome will go on in September of each year and come off in May. Renovations to the existing community building will allow for year round fitness equipment and classes, after school programming, camps and community space for healthy lifestyle workshops. To view a conceptual drawing for this facility please click here.
Crozet Park is an independent, non-profit, community-owned park open to ALL.
A removeable pool dome will provide the community with:
Year round lap swimming,
Year round learn to swim programs,
Year round swim team,
Water aerobics classes,
Therapeutic swimming,
Recreational swimming,
Home to the WAHS swim team!
Currently the WAHS swim team drives nearly 30 minutes to practice late at night. A home at Crozet PARC would allow them to practice less than 5 min from WAHS right after school like all other school sport teams.
How Can You Help?
Make a Donation - All amounts are appreciated
Volunteer to help in one of our many committees
Spread the Word
Make checks payable to "Claudius Crozet Park" (with "Pool Dome" written in the memo section) Mail to: Claudius Crozet Park Pool Dome PO Box 171 Crozet, VA 22932 or Make a donation on-line
All gifts are tax deductible
Crozet PARC Committee See How You Can Help Us
Architectural and Building Committee (sweat equity for local contracting businesses and supplies)
Events (fundraising events for the project)
Major Gifts and Donors (help us identify or introduce us to folks who could make a difference)
Corporate Partners (help identify businesses in the region who want to help)
Community Outreach/ Public Relations/ WEB (spreading the message to the community and all the possible users)
Grants and Foundations (looking for more support for our 501C-3 project...we can use your help writing grant)
Claudius Crozet Park, Inc. is a community owned charitable organization, 501 (c) 3.
