The Northshore Community Foundation recently presented $20,000 in grants to two organizations supporting recreation in Mandeville.

Pelican Bark Park and the Friends of Pelican Park each received $10,000.

The money comes out of the Mandeville Recreation Fund, which was set up using money left over from a trust fund established in the 1980s by a group of fourth ward residents wishing to fund recreational opportunities in the Mandeville area. The group held fund-raiser with the intention of raising enough money to purchase land and construct ball fields.

When a milage was passed and Pelican Park was built, the money was no longer needed.

The money sat in the fund, unused until recently when it was transferred over the Northshore Community Foundation with a balance of $170,000.

Susan Bonnett, president of the Northshore Community Foundation, said the foundation reserved $20,000 to be awarded at this time and endowed the remaining $150,000. They will use the interest raised from the $150,000 to award grants annually.

She said the group accepted application, and six or seven organizations expressed interested in being among the firsts to be awarded grants from this fund. Grant winners must use the money to support recreation in Mandeville and they must be able to provide matching funds.

However, she said it was decided to award the grants to Friends of Pelican Park and the Pelican Bark Park because, “they were the best fit for bother criteria,” Bonnett said, “because they were the most Mandeville specific.”

Richard Wilson, a member of Friends of Pelican Park, said his group would use the money to help fund an exercise trail to be built in Pelican Park. The trail will include 12 stations spread out along the trail for cardio and strength training.

Friends of Pelican Park is a non-profit group that supports projects to enhance Pelican Park.

Wilson said he hopes once it is complete, parents will use the exercise trail while they are waiting for their children to finish practicing on sports teams.

The $10,000 given to The Pelican Bark Park, caps off the $50,000 the group needed to fund phase one of their park.

Sarah Pokorny with Pelican Bark Park said construction will begin on that phase this month, and is scheduled to be finished in February 2010. Phase one will include fencing around the three-acre park, benches, water stations, poop scope stations and a paw wash.