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A Kickstarter effort to raise money to create 5,000 Druid Hill Park “passports” is coming down to the wire.
Launched by Friends of Druid Hill Park member Janet Felston — founding director of the successful Baltimore Green Map project — the Druid Hill passport program, if successful, will contain 16 pages of nature, exercise, history and cultural activities to help visitors become more familiar with the 745-acre park.
After each activity, visitors mark their experience in their passport, and then bring the passport to Druid Hill Park’s Rawlings Conservatory to get it stamped. A copy of the Druid Hill Park Green Map will be tucked inside the passport.
With 11 days to go, as of Monday, $5,077 of the $9,500 funding goal has been pledged. If the project reaches it goal by 7:30 p.m. July 27 — it’s a go.
As with all Kickstarter crowd-funding projects, those pledging receive something in return for their contribution. For example, a guided hike through the park with four friends, complimentary registration for the 2013 Tour Dem Parks, Hon! bike ride, a complimentary pass for two bike rentals for the Wednesday and Thursday evening “Ride Around the Reservoir” program, or free rental of one of the historic pavilions for a special event.
Kickstarter’s overall success rate, according to their stats, is 44 percent. The majority of efforts that get over the 50 percent hump make it, and Felston says she’ll be working hard, looking for donors over the remaining time before deadline. To date, 119 people have pledged support from $5 to $100.
Recent successful Baltimore Kickstarter projects include funding for a video game art book and a novel. Noteworthy local Kickstarter projects include successful funding for Baltimore filmmaker Matthew Porterfield’s latest project, I Used to be Darker.
Founded in 1860, the park has seen a resurgence of activity in recent years. Information about the passport project will also be available at Druid Hill Farmers’ Market, which runs every Wednesday afternoon/evenings through September.
