Rotary offers matching grant for Fort Ward Community Hall project
Published 10:06 am Tuesday, May 31, 2016
The Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island has pledged a $60,000 matching grant to the Fort Ward Community Hall, a landmark contribution to the heritage building restoration and public park facility project.
“Bainbridge Rotary is such a positive force in our community,” said Douglas Crist, Friends of Fort Ward founder and board president. “We’re overwhelmed by the club’s generosity, no less so for the honor that comes with their endorsement.”
Friends of Fort Ward, the neighborhood group leading the community hall campaign, has 12 months to raise $60,000 in cash contributions to secure the Rotary match. Fundraising to date already has the project well on its way toward that goal.
The Fort Ward Community Hall campaign is a three-way partnership of Friends of Fort Ward, an all-volunteer neighborhood organization, the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, and Kitsap County (Fort Ward) Sewer District No. 7.
The project will see restoration of the 1910 bakery building at Fort Ward, a National Historic District at the island’s south end.
The restored building will offer a 1,100-square foot central hall and kitchen facilities for classes, club meetings and other park district programming.
To schedule a tour of the historic Fort Ward bakery building and learn more about the project, see www.fortwardhall.org or email fortwardhall@gmail.com.
