Yosemite Fund donates $5.8 million for trail repair, habitat restoration

The Yosemite Fund donated $5.8 million in 2009 to help restore trails and wildlife habitat at Yosemite National Park, the National Park Service said Monday in a press release.

The nonprofit group presented a check to acting park superintendent Dave Uberuaga on Saturday. Donors paid for 56 projects in 2009 to improve the park. The fund's signature project this year was the $800,000 rehabilitation of the Half Dome Overlook, which improved vehicle and pedestrian access. Donors also paid for the restoration of Wawona Meadow, the repair of the Red Peak Pass backcountry trail and Valley Loop trail, the protection of peregrine falcons, and the restoration of amphitheaters around the valley campgrounds.

The Yosemite Fund has given more than $55 million for more than 300 projects in Yosemite since 1988, the park service said.

For more information, visit http://www.yosemitefund.org or call 1 (800) 4-MY-PARK.