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G's oRcy Old King's Orchard Community Center <br /> 0 <br /> 815 N. Church Street <br /> Decatur, Illinois 62521 <br /> E <br /> " T (217)428-2782 <br /> (Via E-mail(wriahton Pdecaturil.gov)and First-class Mail) <br /> April 24,2023 <br /> Scott W. Wrighton <br /> City Manager <br /> City of Decatur, Illinois <br /> One Gary K. Anderson Plaza <br /> Decatur, Illinois 62523-1196 <br /> Dear Mr. Wrighton: <br /> Old King's Orchard Community Center("OKO") is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization whose <br /> broadly stated mission is to provide a safe,healthy environment that offers opportunities for <br /> youth, adults,and families to improve their quality of life. We serve a part of our community that <br /> is often left behind. As much as possible, we believe in offering our participants a hand-up, as <br /> opposed to a hand-out. <br /> We appreciate the opportunity to submit the following proposal to grow OKO Green and lay the <br /> capital foundation for OKO Sport. Specifically,we are seeking a$250,000 grant from the City <br /> of Decatur to help us transform the OKO neighborhood and consequently improve the lives of all <br /> who reside in Decatur's urban core. The funds will (1)allow OKO Green the opportunity to <br /> engage in urban gardening projects,transforming a portion of the vacant lots in the OKO <br /> community into productive green spaces growing wild flowers, pumpkins,okra, sod and/or other <br /> commercial crops and (2)fund the creation of the OKO Sport Complex,creating an accessible <br /> sports field where a reduced and/or free-of-charge sports program targeting elementary-aged <br /> students will be implemented beginning in spring 2024. <br /> Project#1 —Urban Gardens(OKO Green) <br /> Through donations from its largest benefactor and an agreement reached with the city of Decatur <br /> to exchange parcels of property located around the OKO Community Center, OKO owns <br /> approximately 40 vacant lots in the OKO neighborhood. OKO is committed to maintaining <br /> these properties and has created a program called OKO Green,a social enterprise initiative <br /> designed to provide meaningful employment, skill development, and mentoring to at-risk youth <br />