HaysMed Seeks $375,000 for $1.1 Million Outdoor Fitness Area by Next Spring

Q: What is HaysMed's plan to secure the final $375,000 if its key federal grant applications are denied?

If key federal grants do not come through, HaysMed’s fallback is to close the remaining $375,000 through local fundraising and alternative charitable giving rather than relying on a single public funding source. The reporting indicates the HaysMed Foundation is continuing to pursue grants, but Jeffrey Brull has stressed that community participation is critical in its own right because outside funders often look for visible local buy-in. In practice, that means HaysMed is leaning on a broader campaign of community donations and donor engagement to strengthen both the balance sheet and future grant competitiveness. The foundation is already accepting several types of contributions to fill the gap, including direct cash gifts, stock donations, donor-advised fund gifts, and charitable IRA rollovers. Public outreach, including town hall meetings and online giving through the Lifelong Vitality Initiative page, is part of that effort. So, while no separate contingency package has been publicly detailed beyond the grant strategy, the plan appears to be a diversified fundraising push: keep applying for grants, demonstrate strong community support, and use multiple donation channels to raise the final amount by spring 2027 so construction can proceed on schedule.

1 articles · Updated · Hays Post · Jun 11

$375,000 is still needed to complete HaysMed’s $1.1 million Lifelong Vitality Project, an outdoor fitness and recreation area planned east of its Center for Health Improvement.
The free community space is designed for all ages and abilities, with youth training zones, ADA-accessible workout stations, shaded cardio and strength equipment, expanded play areas and gathering space.
HaysMed says the project aims to boost physical activity and social connection, while also supporting rehabilitation, outdoor classes and intergenerational use tied to nearby senior living, trails and a day care center.
About $250,000 has already been spent on completed indoor upgrades in phase one, while phase two targets the outdoor build; once funding is secured, installation is expected to take six to eight weeks.
The plan also includes 25,000 square feet of turf and poured surfaces, lighting, cameras and refurbished amenities, with organizers pursuing grants and donations as they target a spring construction start.