Project IMPACT (Investing Meaningful Projects Achieving Community Togetherness) at Rice Park is a multi-phase project intended to give our local Rice Park a facelift that will expose more people to our beautiful, unique, riverside community.

Phase 1 of Project IMPACT at Rice Park calls for a new state-of-the-art playground, pictured here, which will

• Be fully wheelchair accessible
• Have a pour in place rubber surface
• Be constructed of all steel structures
• Have a 16 foot slide and tower (The first ADA accessible play tower of its kind in Minnesota!)
• Have activities and equipment for all ages

Seed money for this project comes from a Bush Foundation gift to the Granite Falls Area Community Foundation (GFACF).  In 2017 the Bush Foundation, in honor of its native son, Archibald “Archie” Bush, gifted the GFACF $200,000 to be used for a special project within the Granite Falls community.  Input was gathered and ideas explored before the process was interrupted by the Covid pandemic.  GFACF asked for and was granted permission by the Bush Foundation to use some of these special project funds in the spring of 2020 to ease some burdens that our local businesses and nonprofits were experiencing.  In 2021, even though our fund total had been reduced, GFACF was encouraged to move forward and choose a project for the Bush Special Project Fund.

A facelift for Rice Park (Project IMPACT) was chosen.  The playground is the goal for phase 1.  The long-term vision for the Rice Park facelift includes the addition of bathrooms, a flower or sculpture garden and an amphitheater or concert/event use structure.

Granite Falls Area Community Foundation needs your help to reach our goal of raising an additional $290,000 to add to the $180,000 that we have already secured to complete the playground project.

Help make an IMPACT in our community!

Donate Now or mail your check to the Granite Falls Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 143, Granite Falls, MN 56241 (make checks payable to GFACF Bush Project Fund)

Donors will be recognized on a permanent display near the playground at all support levels

• Rice Park Level – $25,000 –
• Playground Level – $10,000 – $24,999
• Tower Level – $5,000 – $9,999
• Slide Level – $1,000 – $4,999
• Bridge Level – $500 – 999
• River Level – $1 – $499