Heath EDC pledges $500,000 toward trails and offers donation-matching to prime PATH fundraising

The Heath Economic Development Corporation (EDC) told the Park Board on Sept. 21 that it has earmarked $500,000 toward trail projects and is proposing a donor-match program to accelerate PATH fundraising.

EDC president Mike Zelenskus said the EDC would "match the first 50 donations that are $5,000 or more with $5,000 extra," a program designed to encourage larger gifts and help leverage other funding to reach an estimated $1 million target for the Stoneleigh connection. Zelenskus said EDC has also put $500,000 toward trails broadly and described the match as a time-limited campaign that would end before the planned fundraising event.

Board members expressed enthusiasm for a tangible 'win' for the PATH committee and discussed timing and administration of the match; Zelenskus said the match would begin once City Council approves EDC actions (expected the following day) and recommended the Park Board devise a project plan for using the funds. Staff noted drainage and right-of-way work with TxDOT remain major cost drivers for some trail segments and that more detailed engineering estimates will be needed.