OSKALOOSA — Mahaska County Community Foundation recently awarded a Community Betterment Grant totaling $25,000 to the Friends of Mahaska County Conservation.  This is the second year that Friends have received the Community Betterment Grant.  The grant will allow for the Friends and Mahaska County Conservation Board to build the All-Inclusive Nature Playscape and Community Area that will provide local and surrounding communities with an outdoor imaginative experience.  Construction is underway and the Nature Playscape will have natural climbing features, a mammoth play sculpture, a log traverse and staggered trails along with various other outdoor adventures.

The Mahaska County Community Foundation was established in 2005, as a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs and challenges of Mahaska County through strategic philanthropy. Focused on areas such as arts and culture, health and human services, community betterment, recreation and environment, education, and youth development, MCCF awards grants annually to support local projects identified through a community-driven application process. Supported by the Iowa County Endowment Fund Legislation, MCCF has granted over $1.7 million since it started. As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Community Affiliate Network, MCCF offers donors professional expertise in philanthropic strategies, providing a personalized approach to charitable giving that fosters community partnerships and enhances the quality of life in Mahaska County. To learn more about the Mahaska County Community Foundation, visit their website at https://mahaskafoundation.org/.