Official City of Flagstaff Press Release
Contact: City of Flagstaff Kimberly Ott, (928) 213-2061 kott@flagstaffaz.gov. Willow Bend Moran Henn, (928) 779-1745 moran@willowbendcenter.org
Re: Heritage Grant Awarded to Collaborative Frances Short Pond Project
Flagstaff, AZ-February 23rd —Willow Bend Environmental Education Center and the City of Flagstaff are pleased to announce that we are being offered a grant award of $33,960 for our successful Heritage Grant application titled “Frances Short Pond Wildlife Project”. Funds from the grant will be used to support wildlife watching programs, interpretive signage, and a new solar pond aerator at Frances Short Pond. “This project is a part of an official partnership between the City of Flagstaff and Willow Bend for on-going restoration and environmental education efforts for our Rio de Flag watershed and Frances Short Pond. Additional partners include various FUSD and charter schools, Friends of the Rio de Flag, and many community volunteers.”
The Frances Short Pond Wildlife Project is within Arizona Game and Fish Department Region II under the supervision of Craig McMullen. Craig was instrumental in contributing and directing the Heritage Advisory Committee Region II member to their Urban Wildlife Department specialists. The Department’s insight and knowledge in collaboration with Willow Bend Environmental Education Center and the City was instrumental in offering this grant award.
“We were so excited to receive funding for this much needed project” said Moran Henn, Willow Bend Director. Cassandra Roberts, Willow Bend’s Program Director added that “the funds will be used to support student and community field trips to the pond with a goal of promoting an understanding of and an appreciation for its wildlife, history, and habitat”.
Les Butters, Region II Heritage Public Advisory Committee member said that “the AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife section received fifteen applications and only five applicants will be offered Heritage Grant awards totaling $112,500. Receiving the full funding is a reflection of the committee’s trust in the applicants and the importance of this project”.
David McKee, City of Flagstaff Frances Short Pond Project Manager, has been working on Frances Short Pond restoration for a long time and was the main driving force behind October’s (2015) Make a Difference Day, an event that involved over 100 people directly improving conditions at Frances Sort Pond. “The pond is a community treasure, and with this funding we can ensure that it continues to be”.
“Programming will begin soon and you can expect to see us and a lot of students at the pond next fall, watching birds, learning about fishing regulations, and taking pictures” said Henn.
For more information about the Heritage visit www.azgfd.gov, to learn about the program visit www.willowbendcenter.org.
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