About Us

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Scholarships & Camperships
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Injured or Orphaned Animals Cared For

Educational exhibits at Lake Metroparks Penitentiary Glen Reservation and Farmpark provide hands-on learning experiences.

Lake Metroparks conservation initiatives receive additional support through funding for natural resource projects

A Message From the Lake Parks Foundation

The Lake Parks Foundation gives supporters of Lake Metroparks an avenue to enhance an already fine resource. This is done by funding programs and projects that are focused on education. In the 30 years LPF has existed it has helped educate thousands of children, supported the care of thousands of animals at the Wildlife Center and funded hundreds of projects. Thank you for your continued generous support.

—Kevin Clinton, President
Lake Parks Foundation

What a Difference 30 Years Makes

Lake Metroparks

A Message From Lake Metroparks

The Lake Parks Foundation is a critical member of the Lake Metroparks team. The Foundation helps Lake Metroparks fulfill its mission to protect the unique natural resources of Lake County and provide our visitors of all ages with quality outdoor programs and experiences. Lake Metroparks would not be the outstanding park system that it is today without the continuing support it receives from our friends at the Lake Parks Foundation.

—Paul Palagyi, Executive Director

Conservation, Education & Recreation

Since 1989, the Lake Parks Foundation, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization, has enhanced the quality of life in Lake County by preserving land, environment and natural heritage and creating and developing opportunities for conservation, education, recreation and relaxation.

With donor support we promote the development of parks, recreation and leisure services, as well as enhance the quality of life of Lake County residents and visitors. We work in conjunction with the Lake Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners and staff to provide support for development projects for one of Lake County’s finest assets: its park system.

Additionally, Lake Parks Foundation funds requests for student scholarships and camperships to participate in environmental education programs. More than 900 students are annually awarded scholarships that enable them to experience the Lake Metroparks park system and participate in educational programs. Scholarships are provided to students at local schools, preschools and homeschool (e-school) students by application to the Lake Metroparks.

Lake Parks Foundation has funded more than $400,000 over the past five years for Lake Metroparks capital projects and educational scholarships to local and surrounding schools.

In recent years, we helped to fund important capital projects at Lake Metroparks including:
 
  • Penitentiary Glen Nature Exhibit Come & Play phase I, II and III ($62,000)
  • Stuntman Property adding approximately nine acres to Lake Metroparks Helen Hazen Wyman Park ($35,000)
  • Noble Traverse Wall at Jordan Creek Park, in memory of former Lake Metroparks Executive Director, Dave noble ($5,000)
  • Penitentiary Glen Life Cycles Secrets Exhibit ($20,000)
  • Lake Metroparks Farmpark Arena Entrance ($11,000)
  • Penitentiary Glen Songbird Enclosure ($9,000)
  • The Showman’s Circle play area at Lake Metroparks Farmpark ($80,000)
  • The Tower at Lake Metroparks Lake Erie Bluffs ($62,269)
  • The Plant Science Center at Lake Metroparks Farmpark ($42,000)
  • Portable StarLab planetarium ($23,500)
  • At the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center at Penitentiary Glen we provided a granite countertop and recycled plastic durable cabinets for the rehab facility. ($5,000)
  • Also at the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center we funded two live-streaming web cams and equipment at the animal habitat where you can view online the daily activity Apollo the bald eagle and the development of five fox kits. ($8,000)
  • Recycled plastic train to play on and a Butterfly display at Lake Metroparks Penitentiary Glen ($10,800)
  • Funding $50,000 for 2022 projects

Support Our Projects

Gifts can include direct cash donations, bequests, endowments and more.