$300,000 grant awarded to Olympia Tumwater Foundation for Brewery Park

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation announced it received a $300,000 grant to support conservation, restoration and long-term stewardship of Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls.

The grant was courtesy of the Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation.

Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is stewarded by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation (OTF). 

“Many people are surprised to learn that Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is privately owned,” said Olympia Tumwater Foundation Executive Director Todd Cutts in an announcement about the grant.

“Its continued availability to the public depends on stewardship and community investment. This grant from the Bowen Conservancy Foundation affirms a shared belief in conserving special places that connect people to nature and history.”

The money is going to be used help pay for projects focused on protecting natural resources, enhancing visitor safety and accessibility, and preserving the ecological integrity of Brewery Park.

The planned work includes trail and bridge repairs, safety improvements, invasive species removal and targeted landscape restoration.

Conservancy Foundation

The Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation is a private foundation focused on land conservation and habitat protection.

"When the foundation's founder, Dr. Angela J. Bowen, moved her medical practice from Seattle to Olympia in 1967, the OTF sponsored the federal grants that supported her research into diabetes prevention and treatment," said the Olympia Tumwater Foundation in the announcement.

Bowen also served on the Olympia Tumwater Foundation Executive committee from 2008 to 2014. She also donated generously to Brewery Falls improvement projects, including a stone retaining wall along the park's looped river trail.

“Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is a remarkable landscape that deserves thoughtful, long-term care,” said Jeff Crawford of the Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation in the announcement.

“Dr. Bowen believed deeply in conserving the natural environment and connecting people to the land. We are honored to partner with the Olympia Tumwater Foundation to help ensure this special place remains protected and welcoming for future generations.”

Brewery Park hosts hundreds of thousands of visits each year and serves as a gateway to the region’s industrial, ecological and cultural history.

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation is committed to preserving the park through strategic partnerships, responsible conservation and sustained philanthropic support.