Farmer Family Foundation match brings Great Parks support to $7 million

Great Parks Forever has reached a major milestone in its effort to expand and improve outdoor spaces across Hamilton County, securing $2 million in community donations to fully activate a $2 million matching gift from The Farmer Family Foundation.

The $4 million infusion adds to a $3 million gift previously made by the foundation, bringing its total contribution to $5 million and the campaign total to $7 million. The funds will support projects identified by residents through the park district’s Comprehensive Master Plan, including new trail connections, expanded blueway access and ecological restoration efforts.

Great Parks Forever is the philanthropic arm of Great Parks, which manages 18 parks, four conservation areas and a wide range of natural amenities across the county, including golf courses, an equestrian facility and a nature center. The organization’s “Go Big” capital campaign aims to raise $50 million to supplement public funding and make possible major system-wide improvements.

“Congratulations to Great Parks for achieving the full $2 million match for the Go Big capital campaign,” said Robert Coletti, chair of the Farmer Family Foundation. “We are impressed with Great Parks’ ability to garner community support for its important conservation work as well as its plan to activate and improve access to trails, parks, and waterways that make Greater Cincinnati a thriving community.”

Where there dollars are going

Great Parks’ mission is to preserve natural resources and provide outdoor recreation and education that enhances quality of life for current and future Hamilton County residents. This new funding will accelerate that work, including supporting the addition of more than 50 miles of internal trails and 10 miles of regional trail connections through projects like the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail and the Oasis Trail. 

Other priorities include developing the West Region Blueway & Trails System and upgrading Bass Island to improve access to the Little Miami State and National Scenic River.

Donors helping meet the match include the Charles H. Dater Foundation, the Kroger Co. Foundation, the Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation and the Sutphin Family Foundation, along with individual gifts and support from anonymous contributors.

“When The Farmer Family Foundation challenged us with this matching gift, we knew it would take tremendous community support to achieve the full value of the gift for the generations of today and the future,” said Tom Carleton, chief of philanthropy at Great Parks. “We are grateful for their leadership with this gift, because it has proven how powerful the combination of private philanthropy can be in leveraging taxpayer funding to build the park system the public wants to see.”