Project:  As a fundraiser for the Depot in the Park project,  the BHPA could host a "Birdhouse in the Park" display/contest modeled after the J.Doe in Omaha, the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas, the Catfish in Fremont, the Cows in Chicago

• Model Projects
  Horses Project in Lexington, Kentucky
  Jayhawks on Parade in Lawrence, Kansas
  J.Doe Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska
  Big Fish of the Platte in Fremont, Nebraska
  Chicago Cows on Parade in Chicago, Illinois

Ask community members to complete a one page "pre-selection" application form with a basic description of their concept for the bird house they wish to make and submit to the project.  A jury would select XX number of applicants/creators to participate in the project.

Creators, under the coordination of the BHPA, would secure local sponsors for the project. Sponsorship minimum would include $xxx (as a donation to the depot fund) plus the creator's expenses.

Bird houses would be displayed in Lions Park on the north side of the Depot for one month. Each house would be identified with title, creator and sponsor.  (Extra prize goes to any house that a bird actually build a nest in.)

Bird houses would be donated to the BHPA for public auction to raise additional funds for the Depot..

Perimeters: such as size, safety, bird friendly/ functional, style/decoration.
i.e. must be able to effectively mount the bird house on a 5-inch in diameter post.
i.e. must be able to function as a bird house for any species of yard birds. (not owls, eagles, or dodo birds)
i.e. must be no bigger than _________ X _____ X ______
i.e. must be safe for display in a public park.

Possible Timeline:
November & December -- Develop all promotional materials
January -- Call for applications
February -- Selection & Solicit Sponsors
February -- Construction
April --  Display in the park
May -- Auction

Related Events:  Ask Friends of the Blair Arboretum to host a "Bird house" workshop -- looking at the function and design of birdhouse.

Possible Income: $7200 (12 participates, $500 per sponsor, average auction prices $100.  Minus $200 expenses.)

Promotional Benefits: Cause for at least 4 major news cycles (project announcement, creator selection announcement, installation/display, and final auction.)

Vandalism: Suggest to build in the possibility of vandalism - not to encourage it, but to take care so that the success of the project is not guarantee by the final end product-  but by the process.  This could benefit the project by receiving sympathetic publicity.
 

This picture of possibly taken in front of old Central School about 1917 or 1918.