Philanthropist Judy Felland Donates $1 Million to Skatepark

A generous contribution helps the Friends of the St. Joseph Skatepark meet its critical fundraising goal for a major park redesign.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Philanthropy

Philanthropist Judy Felland Donates $1 Million to Skatepark

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Philanthropist Judy Felland has donated $1 million to the Friends of the St. Joseph Skatepark, marking a significant milestone for the local project. This contribution helped the group reach its $1 million fundraising goal last week.

Why it matters

The group aims to create an inclusive space at Kiwanis Park that caters to users of all skill levels and types of vehicles. Reaching this financial milestone ensures the project can move forward with the city-supported redesign.

The Friends of the St. Joseph Skatepark reached its $1 million fundraising goal last week. Any funds raised beyond this total will be dedicated to ongoing maintenance for the new facility.

The players

Judy Felland

Judy Felland is a philanthropist who provided the $1 million donation to help complete the skatepark funding.

Friends of the St. Joseph Skatepark

Friends of the St. Joseph Skatepark is a community group that coordinated fundraising efforts, events, and outreach to redesign the local skate facility.

The details

The project involves a complete redesign of the existing skate park at Kiwanis Park. Future steps include a public input session to finalize designs before the plans are presented to the city commission for approval.

The Friends of the St. Joseph Skatepark reached their fundraising goal during the week of October 18, 2026.
Construction on the new skate park is expected to begin in 2027.

Market Landscape

This project reflects the broader trend of revitalizing aging municipal recreation spaces through community-led fundraising and design efforts. It positions the city of St. Joseph alongside other municipalities investing in modern, inclusive athletic infrastructure.

Residents can expect improved recreational facilities at Kiwanis Park following the upcoming design approval process. The successful fundraising ensures the city can move toward construction without further delays to the project budget.

The takeaway

Large-scale community projects often succeed by combining targeted individual philanthropy with broad grassroots organizing. Local residents should monitor future city commission meetings to share their input on the final park design.