• Sylvan Island Shelter

    Shelter Funding Meter ($20K Needed)
    $20,000 Raised

    Donate to This Project Through PayPal

    Update: 5/20/21

    We've reached our goal! Thanks again everyone!

    Update: 5/18/21

    We're almost to our funding goal and the shelter has been ordered! Concrete work will also begin soon.

    We are so lucky to have had our Quad Cities community rally around our efforts to build the shelter on Sylvan Island. Due to the generous donations we’ve received, the Sylvan Island Shelter Fund has just about reached the goal of $20,000. We are heading towards the home stretch so if you’ve thought about donating and haven’t yet, click on the Donate button and be a part of making the Sylvan Island Shelter a reality.

    A special thanks to the following for their contributions to the projects:

    • The Moline Foundation [$10k grant]
    • Manatts Ready Mix Inc. [Concrete for the shelter pad]
    • General Pattern Corporation [Commemorative plaque for the shelter]
    • Great River Tug Fest [$500 grant]
    • QC Trail & Ultra Runners [donations from trail running race proceeds]
    • The Endurance Tribe [donations from trail running race proceeds]
    • Century Electric [Electrical hookup]
    • FORC members and various in kind donations from members of the community!



    FORC is Building a shelter on Sylvan Island and we've already raised $10,000 for the project! Big thanks to the Moline Foundation for their generous grant to help us get started! We need to raise $20,000 total to complete the project. This sum will cover the purchase/transport/building of the structure, pouring a concrete pad, and purchasing a plaque celebrating the founders and volunteers of FORC.

    Why a shelter?

    • A shelter will facilitate impromptu gatherings and serve as a focal point for organized events held on the island.
    • Use by the public for picinics, family gatherings, shelter from the sun/rain, and more and will get people outside and connected with the great natural resources available on the island.
    • Serve as a living memorial for FORC and the thousands of hours volunteers have put into creating and maintaining singletrack trails on the island.


    Project History

    Carol Brown, longtime FORCer, proposed the idea for a Sylvan shelter to the FORC board back in early 2017. With their blessing she approached city of Moline and secured the necessary approvals to move forward. The project was announced publicly at the 20th anniversary FORC Fest at Scott County Park in early August 2017. Since that time she has been tracking down funding to make it happen. Her determination is starting to pay off as FORC was awarded the first grant for the project from the Moline Foundation in Nov. 2018 for $10k! Let's keep the momentum going and get this puppy built!

    Shelter Details

    Poligon 20'x20' Square Four Sided Hip Roof. With concrete pad. Very similar to the one at Sunderbruch Park.
    Location TBD but we're thinking somewhere along the southwest shore near the bridge.

    How You Can Help

    • Give a personal (tax deductible) donation to the project fund (see button below). Ask your employer if they match employee donations for a chance to multiply your impact! Many larger companies do (ie. John Deere).
    • Ask your employer about community or matching grants available for nonprofits that might work for this project.
    • Donate your time/expertise helping us find and write grants.
    • Let us know about grants that might fit for this project (contact details below).

    Contact Us

    Contact us at sylvan-shelter@qcforc.org for questions, more details, or if you have ideas to help this project succeed.