The story of the Maple Ridge Community Foundation begins with a gift to the community.

In 1960, Alfred Reiboldt moved to Maple Ridge, then known as Haney, and purchased a five-acre property on Tamarack Lane. Over time, he transformed the land into a forestry and wildlife preserve, nurturing it as a place of natural beauty and quiet reflection.

When Reiboldt passed in 1975, he left the property to the people of Maple Ridge.

His generosity sparked something much larger.

In 1976, the Maple Ridge Community Foundation was formed with a mandate to steward and develop the property as a public park. But the vision extended beyond the land itself. Community leaders saw an opportunity to build a lasting philanthropic organization that would support local needs for generations to come.

Among those who helped shape this vision were Dr. Bob Rhodes, a physician and horticulture enthusiast, and George Grieve, a director of the Park and Recreation Commission and a member of municipal council.

Grieve had previously attended a seminar where he learned about the impact of a community foundation established in Spokane, Washington in 1951. Inspired by that model, local leaders worked together to create what would become the Maple Ridge Community Foundation.

Reiboldt Park opened to the public in 1984 and remains a cherished community space. Today, the park includes an interpretation area with botanical information, a display of antique farm equipment, and a covered picnic area.

More importantly, it represents the place where the Foundation’s story began.

For five decades, the Maple Ridge Community Foundation has grown from this original act of generosity into a catalyst for community impact — supporting initiatives, partnerships, and opportunities that strengthen Maple Ridge.

Reiboldt Park remains the foundation of our foundation, the gift that sparked fifty years of giving where we live.