The Bloomington Parks Foundation enhances and expands the services of the award-winning Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department through gifts of land and funds, and ensures children can participate by providing scholarship assistance to youth to take part in Parks and Recreation programs.
Continuing Double Market Bucks Funding at the Farmers’ Market
The Double Market Bucks program, a result of the Foundation’s pursuit of grant funding, continues at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market. Grant funds support this innovative project designed to improve access to the nutrient-dense, fresh, local food available at the Market. When customers with Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) benefits purchase Market Bucks, they receive a matching dollar amount (up to $27 per visit) in additional Market Bucks to use at the Farmers’ Market. Market Bucks are paper vouchers that may be used like cash to purchase SNAP-eligible food and food-bearing seeds and plants from participating Market vendors. Because the Market Bucks are spent exclusively at Market, it ensures the economic benefits stay in the community and the funds help support local farmers and small businesses.
33rd Annual Don Brineman Memorial Golf Scramble
Another successful Don Brineman Memorial Golf Scramble took place Aug. 27, 2025 at Cascades Golf Course. The annual golf scramble raised funds to support youth scholarships for Bloomington Parks and Recreation programs. Teders Quackenbush Wealth Management & Partners was the Presenting Sponsor. IU Credit Union was the Driving Range sponsor, and Nature’s Way was the Cart Sponsor. A total of 18 teams participated, while Indiana University varsity men’s golf team members Ethan Chelf and Cole Starnes attended the event and helped raise money by making tee shots for a donation to the scholarship fund.
Scholarships for Youth
Approximately $18,587 was provided in scholarships to support youth involvement in Bloomington Parks and Recreation programs. Sixty-six families with a total of 97 children were served in 2025, plus the named Donald Shiflet scholarship to Fairview Elementary students Moriah Boatman (Spring 2025) and Phoenix Morse (Fall 2025).
Community Access to City Pools
The Bloomington Parks Foundation provided $10,000 toward the Pool Fee Waiver program, to support free pool admission for 742 (529 youth and their accompanying adults) members of the Bloomington community.
