Projects
Update on Cabins Project, Summer 2008
Kansas Wildscape Foundation's Cabins Project continues its phenomenal success story with more cabins in the works and two more correctional facilities contracted to get them built. Additionally, Wildscape recently learned that its Kansas Community Development Credit application has been approved for $150,000 worth of tax credits for the 18-month period from July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. Very welcome news, and a big "Thank You!" to all who wrote letters of support or otherwise helped Wildscape realize this goal.
Construction has begun at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility, which will build State Fishing and Public Land cabins and at the Norton Correctional Facility, which is currently building a cabin for Scott State Park. The Hutchinson Correctional Facility continues to turn out cabins slated for State Parks.
Currently, there are 22 cabins in place, including:
7 at Tuttle Creek;
4 at Perry;
3 at Cross Timbers State Park;
2 at Lake Wilson;
2 at Kanopolis;
2 at Glen Elder State Park;
2 at Eisenhower State Park.
According to the Cabin Committee Report, submitted at the July 11 board meeting, cabin bookings were up 248% in January 2008 versus January 2007 and the average income of each cabin continues to run far ahead of original expectations, at $9,900 realized income vs original expectation of $7,500 per cabin per year.
Current priorities include acceleration of the construction schedule in order to meet demand, acquisition of Kansas sales tax exemption, and continued efforts to attract additional cabin sponsors and donors. Cabin dedications and placement of plaques and signage also remain high-priority goals.
Additional cabins being constructed in 2008 are slated for the following locations:
McPherson State Fishing Lake (2)
Atchison State Fishing Lake (1)
Crawford State Park (3)
Fall River (2)
Scott State Park (2)
Pomona State Park (2)
Hillsdale (2)
Clinton State Park (2)