The Friends of Findley State Park, Inc., hosted a root beer float social July 5 and served more than 100 people in an effort to raise funds for the expansive park.
“We have really big dreams that seem to be pushed back now,” said Tricia Andel, president of the organization, of recent budget cuts at the park.
The event was held from 1 to 3 p.m. on the side of the campground’s shelter house.
The shelter house, which has a concrete pad lined with picnic tables and a roof, was built in 2002 from funds raised by the Friends of Findley State Park, according to Valerie Gardner, the vice president of the group.
Each root beer float was made simplistically with vanilla ice cream and root beer and sold for $2.
The organization holds a root beer social fundraiser on the weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
This year’s goal for the group is to complete the pickleball courts near the boat ramp at the camping area, said Andel.
The concrete pad for the four-person court was poured at the end of June, according to Andel and Karen Farago, of the Natural Resources Department, who also serves as a volunteer for the Friends of Findley State Park.
The total cost of the project is about $16,000.
The group received a $7,400 grant from the Lorain County Public Health’s Healthy Places grant program, said Gardener who wrote the grant.
The next fundraiser, the Forest Frolic Trail Race and Hike, is scheduled to be held July 12.
While the organization started raising funds for the park in 2002, it wasn’t officially formed until 2004.
The Friends of Findley State Park, Inc. is a non-profit organization that works to help build new attractions, preserve and protect Findley State Park, located at 25381 Route 58, Wellington.
The state park encompasses 838 acres heavily wooded with pine trees and various hardwood trees surrounding a large body of water.
The park’s trail system and water offer visitors camping, boating, hiking and more.
To learn more about the group’s fundraising efforts or to register for the Forest Frolic, visit www.friendsoffindley.org or its Facebook page.
