Foundation Pledges $1M For EAA Aviation Discovery Park

The Tracy Forrest Foundation, an aviation career development organization, pledged $1 million towards the development of EAA Discovery Park. According to the Foundation, the new park will act as the “next evolution of youth aviation” at the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The area will bring together KidVenture and other youth programs in a more accessible area on the main airshow grounds at Oshkosh Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH).

“The Tracy Forrest Foundation is helping take Discovery Park from a vision to a reality,” said EAA Aviation Foundation v-p Margaret Brill. “Sharing ‘the spirit of aviation’ is at the core of EAA and AirVenture purpose and beginning next year, sharing that spirit with youth on the AirVenture grounds will be more dynamic and effective than ever.”

The foundation’s namesake, Tracy Forrest, spent much of his career supporting young aviators. Forrest once served on the President’s Council for both EAA and the AOPA. Additionally, he served on NBAA’s Leadership Council and was a founding director at both the TBM Owners and Pilots Association and Citation Jet Pilots and Owner Association.

EAA Discovery Park is set to open during AirVenture 2027 and will include new TeenVenture programming, hands-on STEM activities, youth forums, and aviation-themed play experiences, according to EAA.