Waterloo Veteran Park Goal Surpassed

Article by KPC Media | KPC News | May 3, 2019

WATERLOO — The Town of Waterloo recently surpassed its fundraising goal for building a new Veterans Memorial Park, Town Manager Tena Woenker said in a news release.

At the conclusion of the campaign, the town has raised $62,686 toward its $48,750 goal, far exceeding expectations, she said.

Because the goal was met by the deadline May 1 at midnight, the Waterloo Park Board is eligible to receive matching funds up to $48,750 by using the CreatINg Places program offered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Using the matching funds with the crowd funding platform enabled the town to generate excitement and public support for the project, Woenker said.

“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s support, donations came in even after we made the goal!” Woenker said. “We can’t wait to start digging the pond and building the sledding hill. Those are the first steps of park construction, and we hope to be building it in the next few months.”

The money raised will be used to activate a vacant lot by constructing the first phase of Waterloo’s Veterans Memorial Park. Plans call for the park to include a stocked fishing pond, sledding hill, walking trail, landscaping, benches, landscaping and fenced dog play area. The site is near the town’s water tower at Center and Walnut streets.

The project is generating more support than expected, Woenker said. This week, a local Girl Scout troop offered to sponsor another bench in the park, and many offers have come for helping with the memorial in phase two. Park Board members are encouraged that the park will be a popular site for recreation, based on the level of support generated, Woenker said.

More than 100 people, foundations and businesses contributed to the cause. Woenker provide a list of the largest donations: $10,000 from American Legion Post 97, Auburn; $10,000 from Richard Squier Pallets; $5,000 from Charleston Metals Inc.; $5,000 from Horizon Bank; $5,000 from the Olive B. Cole Foundation; $5,000 from Peoples Charitable Foundation; $5,000 from R.P. Wakefield Co.; $2,000 from Covington Box & Containers; $2,000 from Nucor Building Systems; $2,156 from the Waterloo Town Council; $1,500 from Stephen Liebbe; $1,000 from Casey’s General Store; $1,000 from employees at Eaton Corp., Auburn; $1,000 from NIPSCO; $1,000 from Dr. Larry Payne; $566 from Loyal Order of Moose, Auburn; $500 from New Hope Christian Center; $500 from Community Foundation DeKalb County; $500 from Hartman Auto Body; $500 from William Hubartt; and $500 from Dwight and Lina Zerkle.

This first phase of the park will be constructed this year and will be available to residents quickly, Woenker said. The layout of the pond and hill will determine where the phase two elements of the park will be located.

The Waterloo Park Board engaged the public in setting the goals and elements of the park and parks system and will be adding more to the parks in the future, Woenker said. Waterloo received approval from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for the town’s five-year parks and recreation master plan and hopes to apply to the IDNR for the next stage of funding in 2020 for a veterans memorial sculpture, connecting the park with another trail to the Auburn-Waterloo Bikeway, adding more landscaping, benches, parking, and possibly a pavilion or splash pad.

Details about the park are on the Patronicity Indiana website under Waterloo Veterans Park, she said. 

Article source: https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_499dfee1-df4f-5456-9d23-06ed4c8c3188.html