Jane Avinger, chief operating officer of Friends of Warner Parks, briefed the board on the nonprofit’s strategic plan and recent investments in conservation, programming and stewardship of Warner Parks.

Avinger said Friends of Warner Parks and Metro Parks have invested in prescribed burns, meadow restoration and invasive plant removal. She told the board Friends of Warner Parks has invested $1,600,000 to date in invasive plant removal in Warner Parks and that an estimated $1,300,000 remains to be invested in the work. The group also manages a volunteer program of roughly 1,500 volunteers who log more than 12,000 hours annually, Avinger said.

The organization is funding a Warner Parks data hub powered by geographic information system tools to improve stewardship and transparency; Avinger said the hub is shared with the Warner Parks Nature Center staff. She reported that the organization’s endowment has a current value of more than $2,400,000 and that 80% of the nonprofit’s fiscal 2024 expenses were invested directly into park improvements and programming.

Avinger highlighted programmatic priorities including the nature discovery program for underserved youth, bird monitoring and education efforts, and support for the Warner Parks Nature Center. She thanked Metro Parks staff for partnerships on historic preservation and recent restorations, and confirmed Friends of Warner Parks will continue to fund conservation, education and data projects in coordination with Metro Parks.