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Batavia Parks Foundation Peace on Earth Projects Fund

Est. 2024

Batavia Parks Foundation Peace on Earth Projects Fund

Craig Foltos’s long-held dream of making permanent the 12-foot “PEACE ON EARTH” letter art on Batavia’s Peace Bridge finally came true in 2023, thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers, the Batavia Park District, in-kind donors, and the Batavia Parks Foundation, who raised over $50,000 to fund the permanent installation. A selfie station and a peace rock garden were added to the project in 2024, inviting visitors to interact with the art.

The Batavia Parks Foundation Peace on Earth Projects Fund was created in December 2024 to support the future maintenance and preservation of three Batavia Peace Projects and provide seed funding for innovative future Batavia Peace projects. The Batavia Parks Foundation established the Fund with community donations for the foundation’s PEACE ON EARTH projects, combined with savings from partner in-kind professional services.

The Batavia Peace Projects include a trio of projects developed by the Batavia Parks Foundation in Batavia, IL, in 2023-24 that capture the spirit of volunteerism and community engagement in Batavia. The three projects include the PEACE ON EARTH 12’ permanent letters on the Peace Bridge (ribbon cut on November 26, 2023), the Wilson Street Bridge Peace Selfie Station (opened May 2024), and the Batavia Peace Garden (opened on September 21, 2024, the United Nations International Day of Peace).

The Batavia Parks Foundation’s mission is to foster recreation and open space initiatives that enhance residents’ quality of life.

Contact the Batavia Parks Foundation: Email bataviaparksfoundation@gmail.com to request a grant application form.

Donate today to help preserve Batavia’s Peace Projects, keep Batavia’s iconic peace traditions alive, and seed future peace projects in Batavia, Illinois, for tomorrow.

PEACE ON EARTH 12’ permanent letters installed on the Batavia Peace Bridge
Batavia PEACE ON EARTH selfie station on Wilson Street
Batavia Peace Garden

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