The Plough Foundation will put up $1.5 million over five years toward improvements to Overton Park and operations of the Midtown park by the Overton Park Conservancy.

The foundation grant announced Friday, Dec. 16, comes two weeks after the conservancy’s contract with the city for the management and maintenance of the park was approved by the Memphis City Council.

Conservancy leaders have said they intend to begin making enhancements to the park as soon as possible. That includes a dog park, refurbishing the Rainbow Lake and nearby playground area as well as removing some invasive plants from the Old Forest which is a state natural area.

The conservancy has a goal of raising $6 million privately for operations and capital projects within the park that would also use some share of city funding.