FGP held its Annual Holiday Gala on December 5 at the Harrison Park Community Center, thanks to Wagenbrenner Realty for allowing FGP to use the facility. This year’s Gala included a silent auction of artistic items created from some of Goodale Park’s natural elements.

Devon Palmer, a woodworker who lives near the park, auctioned the initial piece of a number of creations that Devon is making from a dying Hawthorne tree that was harvested from the park. Mr. Palmer has offered to donate the items created from this tree to the Friends of Goodale Park as a way of giving back to the park and acknowledging his enjoyment of it.

Dave Brigner, a horticulturist at the Franklin Park Conservatory, harvested leaves from the lotus plants blooming in the Goodale pond to create casted sculptures that serve as ground-level ponds and bird baths for the garden. Dave graciously donated one of his sculptures for the silent auction. In addition to the items created from the park’s natural elements,

Tim Knapp donated a selected piece of art from The Lyle Gallery on East Town Street.

Besides the silent auction, the Gala also included live music by The Erik Augis Duo from the Columbus Jazz Group and a fantastic array of food and drink donated by area restaurants and merchants (including Basi Italia, Europia, Lemon Grass, Piece of Cake, Rigsby’s, Surly Girl, Union Station, Hyde Park, Northstar Café, Press Grill, Spinelli’s Deli and Tasi’s) and thanks to the recruitment efforts of Bruce Dooley and his staff. Beautiful floral decorations were donated by Blooms Direct.

Despite the snow and cold, the event was attended by nearly 100 people and raised over $2,400 which will support annual park planting and maintenance and the Tete-a-Tete falls.