Organizational History:
· FOBPR founded on April 22, 2021 by Christine Hall and Steve Friedland with advice from Roger Straus. They met at the City Park gazebo.
· In 2022, joined by Anthony Trilli and in 2023, by Laura Brownfield and Wade Troxell.
· April 2022: Through team effort and 100 volunteers, Friends of Bandon Parks received the Oregon Urban and Community Forestry (OUCF) organization award. Friends of Bandon Parks was selected from among 18 submissions in Oregon for promoting healthy urban and community forests
· July 2022: First FOBPR Newsletter is published with Christine Hall as Editor
· September 2022 : Newsletter article promoting mural in city park by Vicki Affatatti
· February 2023: Newsletter article providing education on Gorse ratification
· February 2023: Joined the Bandon Chamber of Commerce as a non-profit member and joined the Native Plant Society, South Coast Chapter
· March 2023: New look to FOBPR Newsletter
· August 2023: Website FOBPR.com created/released
· August 2023: Application for 501©3 (Received certification in June 2024)
· December 2023 Christine Hall’s presentation at Farm & Sea Meet and Greet
· In 2024, the Executive Board added Claudine Hundhausen as Vice President, Margert Pounder as Advisor, and Andrea Burke as Member At Large.
· February 2024: Newsletter article highlighted recreational opportunities at City Park (disc golf, walking, biking , and dog park)
· August 2024: Christine Hall and Wade Troxell presentation to Bandon City Council- Johnson Creek Greenway: Keeping it Natural
· January 2025: Joined Non-Profit Association of Oregon
· March 2025: Christine Hall relocates, leaving FOBPR. Laura Brownfield becomes new President and Steve Friedland the new Editor of the monthly Newsletters.
· May 2025: Wade Troxell becomes Executive Vice President and continues as Treasurer.
Past Project Work:
· August 2022: Five Bike Racks purchased/installed with Bandon 100 Strong funding
· August 2022: Volunteer decorative painting by new bike racks installed by the Bandon Port
· October 2022: Green Friday planting and appreciation event at Johnson Creek
· November: 2023 Green Day – City Park tree planting events. Also, our volunteers donated over 500 hours by working two park clean-up days
· April 2024: Ocean Crest Elementary Health Fair- booth teaching bike safety and promoting outdoor recreation through cycling. Donated five bicycles for school raffle and gave away over 50 bicycle helmets and various other promotional items.
· May 2024: First Ocean Crest Elementary Bike Rodeo (Third Grade Class)- With support from Cycle Oregon provided practical instruction around: basic bicycle operation, rules of the road, maintenance, and safety. Each student receives a bicycle helmet. Ten bicycles donated for class raffle.
· September 2024: Bandon Cranberry Festival- collaborative effort with NPSO and Community Garden in entering award winning parade float; shared booth with NPSO- provided craft activity for children, shared information and giveaways promoting our organization with all visitors
· April 2025: Ocean Crest Elementary Health Fair- booth teaching bike safety and promoting outdoor recreation through cycling. Donated five bicycles for school raffle and gave away over 50 bicycle helmets and various other promotional items.
· May 2025: 2nd Ocean Crest Elementary Bike Rodeo (Third Grade Class)- With support from Cycle Oregon provided practical instruction around: basic bicycle operation, rules of the road, maintenance, and safety. Each student receives a bicycle helmet. Ten bicycles donated for class raffle.
· May 2025: Donation of two bicycles, two tricycles and 1 toddler push truck to the Bandon Community Youth Center to help promote outdoor recreation
· 2024-Present: Providing financial accounting support to Stillwater Natives Nursery Internship Program
Funding Support:
· August 2022: Bandon 100 Strong grants $1000 for bike rack purchases
· August 2022: Face Rock Best Western provides $1000 to support local mural painting
· May 2023: Donated $500 to City of Bandon to help secure a $30,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for new playground equipment in City Park
· August 2022: Received a $2500 grant from Oregon Arts and Culture Coalition to purchase shrubs and trees for City Park
· July 2023: Story Walk grand opening -FOBPR donated $1000 to project
· August 2023: $500 donation to City of Bandon to resurface pickleball courts at City Park
· 2024: Received $2300 in Donations from Bandon Best Western, Bandon Rotary, United Way of SW Oregon, and Walmart in Coos Bay helped fund 2024 Health Fair/Bike Rodeo
· 2024: Awarded $1000 Capacity Grant from Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation
· 2024: Awarded $4950 Grant from Bandon 100 Strong for 2025 Health Fair/Bike Rodeo support
· 2024: 41 FOBPR members provided donations of $2708
· 2025: FOBPR donation made to Greater Bandon Association ($250)
· 2025: Awarded $3500 from the City of Bandon from the State Revenue Sharing Program
· 2025 YTD: 27 FOBPR members have provided donations of $2040
Upcoming Events/Projects:
· September 2025- Working with Greater Bandon Association, we are funding a Chat Bench to be installed on Edison Avenue SW (near the former Edgewater’s restaurant)
· September 2025- Parade Pocession and Booth at Bandon Cranberry Festival
· November 2025- Project to honor our Veterans with a planting and landscaping event at Bandon VFW Post 3440
