Photo courtesy of mycountyparks website

A new non-profit organization in Greene County is focusing on outdoor amenities. 

Chris Henning is a board member of the Friends of Greene County IA Parks, with its goal of improving Greene County’s parks and encouraging the use of all outdoor public spaces. She says while the Greene County Conservation Department does a great job of maintaining the current parks with their personnel, the Friends group is dedicated to assisting with funding through grants and donations, along with having volunteers to help with trail maintenance.

The leadership committee includes Alexis Stevens as the chair, the vice chair is Bob Rye, Mary Weaver and Cheryl Robson are co-secretaries, Dale Hanaman is the treasurer, along with Greene County Conservation Director Tanner Scheuermann. The other board members include Henning, Peg Gannon, James Ure, Nancy Hanaman, Margaret Hamilton, and Abby Hamilton.

The Friends meet the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm at the Greene County Extension Office in Jefferson and anyone from the public is welcomed to join. Additionally, there is a sledding event, weather permitting, scheduled for this Sunday from 1:30-3:30pm with cookies and cocoa at the sledding hill at Seven Hills Park. A snow date is planned for February 26th.