As hundreds of cyclists poured through the Summit City, there was hope that the event would not only bring some exercise and entertainment to the participants but hopefully a changed view of the community in general.FORT WAYNE – A $500,000 cash donation will allow a local land trust to establish a revolving fund to purchase land for preservation.
ACRES Land Trust received its largest donation from an Indiana couple who asked to remain anonymous.
“This is huge,” said Shane Perfect, ACRES project manager. “We’re still grasping the concept that individuals are in the position and mindset to do something like this.”
ACRES is a non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving, managing and educating the public about natural areas. The organization serves 32 counties in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio.
Perfect said ACRES plans to acquire more land to expand the Dygert Nature Preserve in Whitley County.
“I think it’s important to recognize the concept behind this revolving fund is so that ACRES can continue to pursue new acquisitions of land as nature preserves,” he said. “That’s truly the vision of these donors.”
With offices in Huntertown, ACRES is Indiana’s oldest and largest land trust. It currently owns 4,800 acres at 78 nature preserves.
“It is clear the public sector has fallen behind in setting aside open space for recreation purposes for our citizenry,” the donors said in a statement.
ACRES said the donation will allow it to quickly purchase land when it becomes available. The group would then raise money to restore the revolving fund.
