Wabash Kiwanis Club Board Votes to Donate $10,000 to Project
A committee of volunteers has organized to give South Side Park an overhaul.
Initial plans include the installation of a new playground system, parking, benches, and a walking path, among other amenities. The group also intends to resurface the basketball court, landscape the area, and create a new entrance to the park from Vernon Street.
The project is being co-chaired by Mitch Figert, City Councilman for the south side, and local attorney Jordan Tandy. Other committee members include Pat Brekke, Beth Miller, April Nicely, Jennifer Scott, Brian Scramlin, Jay Vandeburg, and Judy Ward.
“There haven’t been any updates of any significance made to South Side Park in quite some time, and it shows,” said Figert. “The play equipment is worn and outdated, and there’s not much there to attract families and children. We hope that the upgrades that we have planned will activate the space and make it more of a destination for those who live on the south side.”
The group is currently in the fundraising and planning stage and hopes to make the improvements in the spring or summer of 2017.
“We have a goal to raise $50,000 to be able to do everything that we want to do,” said Tandy. “The more money we raise, the bigger the playground.”
The Wabash Kiwanis Club got the project off the ground with a $10,000 donation.
Kiwanis Club President and committee member Judy Ward said “the Kiwanis Club’s mission is to serve the children of the world, and we’re always looking for ways to do that locally. Our board believes that upgrading the park is a great way to serve families and children on the south side of town.”
The City of Wabash has made a commitment to match Kiwanis’s donation.
“We are fortunate to have the support of the City for this project,” said Tandy. “Since Mayor Long took office, he has shown himself to be willing to invest in quality of place initiatives that benefit Wabash in a lot of different ways. This project probably wouldn’t be possible without his support, as well as the support of Adam Hall and the Park Board.”
“Adam Hall, the Parks Department, and their board of directors do a great job with the upkeep of the parks, but like everyone else they are limited with their budget and there is only so much that falls within their scope of responsibility. We felt that it was our duty as a local service organization to step up and do our part to make sure that the park stays attractive, safe, and fun for families in that area.”
Last week, the committee received a $500 award from Heartland REMC’s Operation Round Up grant program.
“We’ve gotten off to a great start with fundraising, and we’re so appreciative of the groups like Kiwanis and Heartland REMC that have already committed to supporting us. But we still have a long way to go,” said committee member Beth Miller.
A fundraising dinner catered by Dan’s Fish & Tenderloin is scheduled for October 22nd at Zion Lutheran Church on 173 Hale Dr. Tickets are $10 at the door and $9 in advance for adults, and $8 at the door and $7 in advance for children ages 6 through 12. Children under 6 are free. Those interested in purchasing tickets may contact any Committee member or send a message to the South Side Park Project Facebook page.
The project is also receiving a boost from Wabash Cannonball CrossFit. Owner and operator Jakae Francis and trainer Kaitlin Hire are planning their 2nd annual WOD-O-WEEN fundraiser on Saturday, October 29th at their location in the Kroger shopping center. All proceeds of the event will be donated to the South Side Park Project. “WOD” stands for “workout of the day.”
The WOD-O-WEEN event is our way of getting people from the community together to get some exercise and have some fun to benefit a local project,” said Francis. “We’re excited about what they’re trying to do for South Side Park and believe it’s something worth supporting.”
WOD-O-WEEN will cost $30 per adult or $5 per child ages 6 to 14. The entry fee includes a workout, a t-shirt, and an entry into a raffle. Those interested may contact Jakae at (260) 330-2093.
Figert said that the response from the community has been very positive so far. “We just set up a Facebook page called the South Side Park Project. We plan to use that to give people updates on the project and get some ideas and feedback from the community.”
The Committee is accepting donations from local businesses and individuals. Gifts of at least $250 will be recognized through a plaque installed at the park.
In addition to financial contributions, the committee is seeking in-kind donations of services from local businesses. “We are looking for a construction or excavating company to help us with leveling the site to prepare it for the playground,” Tandy said. “We could also use contributions from a landscaping company or a printing company to donate t-shirts to our volunteers. The more of those types of services that we can have donated, the more funds we will have available to use for the playground.”
The committee is encouraging anyone who is interested to become involved with the project.
“We would love to receive input from the community,” said Figert. “At the end of the day, this is a neighborhood park, and the neighbors of the park will be the ones using it. We’d love to hear what improvements they would like to see, and we’ll do our best to make them happen.”
For more information about the South Side Park Project, visit the South Side Park Project Facebook page or contact Mitch Figert at mfigert@wabashmuseum.org or Jordan Tandy at jtandy@wabashlaw.com.