Pools campaign extended through weekend

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The 10-day campaign to raise money to open two city pools has been extended through the weekend.

In eight days, the group Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and the city of Grand Rapids have raised more than $75,000 in pledges and contributions from 325 individual donors, along with businesses and foundations.

These groups need about $175,000 to open the Briggs and Martin Luther King park pools for the summer. The Richmond Park pool will be opened thanks to the financial support of local businessman Bob Sullivan.

The deadline for raising the funds has been extended until Monday evening. A representative from the group Friends of Grand Rapids Parks will present the final amount of private contributions to the city commission at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Anyone interested in donating can do so in the following ways:

• Electronically: Visit the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks website, www.friendsofGRparks.org and click on Donate Now. You can designate your donation for pools.
• By mail: Send checks to Friends of GR Parks, PO BOX 3199, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. Please specify 'Pools Fund' on the memo line of your check. Checks also may be made out to the Grand Rapids City Treasurer.
• Drop off your donation: At the city of Grand Rapids Drop Box, marked 'City Payments' on Ottawa Avenue, located across from City Hall and the Calder Sculpture. Specify 'Pool Fund' on your envelope and check.