The Oregon Parks and Recreation District has awarded Hood River County a 470-thousand dollar grant to acquire 103 acres around Punchbowl Falls along the Hood River for development of a park.  The property will be transferred from the Western Rivers Conservancy to the County by the end of the year, and park improvements including a new parking lot, informational signage, portable toilets, and an enhanced trail system should be finished by next summer.  Western Rivers Conservancy had purchased the property over the last decade.  The full budget for the project to create the Punchbowl Falls Nature Park is over $1.2 million including the grant, $575,000 in donations from the Conservancy for property acquisition, $146,000 from the County, $5,000 from the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District, and in-kind matches from local volunteers.  A kickoff fundraiser is planned for next Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Hood River.