Stop out to see the progress that's been made on the Lodge. If the pace continues, and the weather holds, we could be looking at completion and a soft opening of the Lodge in February 2025! As of August 2024, we still need about $150,000 in specific donations to complete the amenities that will go into the Lodge. See the Donor Catalog for the list of items that are still needed, so that this building will be functional!
DID YOU KNOW... all of the funds for the Lodge have been raised by the Friends of Lapham Peak? Either by generous donations from people like you, or from the Friends themselves, or from a few grants? Some people think this is a DNR or State project? It is not. The Friends are doing this with the approval of the DNR (since it is on the State's property) and it was a project listed on the DNR's long range plan. But no funding was in the State's plan for it. So, with an initial $500,000 donation by 2 members of the Friends of Lapham Peak, the ball got rolling, and the Friends agreed to champion and manage this project and the DNR agreed that the project would be a good addition to the Park at this time. When the building is done, the Friends will donate the building to the DNR to insure and maintain it. However, the DNR needs to get funding into their budget to support the ongoing cost of the building, so the Friends have agreed to provide up to five years of maintenance, if it takes the State that long to change their budget for this. Hopefully, it won't take the State that long.
A beautiful, artistic wall display has been commissioned to honor those who donate to this project. While specifics are still under wraps (specifics are a secret), the wall will reflect aspects of the park, and nature here, and the tiers/levels of gifts to the project. People donating funds or items (of at least $2000 in value) will be recognized on the display.
The list of outstanding specific items that may be donated is here in our Lapham Lodge Donor Catalog
Personalized/engraved donor (paver) bricks can additionally be donated that will be placed in the east side patio (while supplies last).
