Waterloo Veterans Park Made Possible

Article by KPC Media | KPC News | April 16, 2019

WATERLOO — The town of Waterloo has zoomed past its fundraising goal for a new park on the town’s south side.

Donations announced Tuesday totaling $19,500 sent the campaign to nearly $60,000 for creating Veterans Memorial Park.

The town had set a goal of $48,750 it needed by May 1 to qualify for a matching grant of an equal amount from the CreatINg Places program of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

Gifts made Tuesday included $5,000 apiece from Charleston Metals Inc., Horizon Bank and the Olive B. Cole Foundation, $2,000 from Nucor Building Systems, $1,000 from NIPSCO and $500 each from New Hope Christian Center, CommunityFoundation DeKalb County and Dwight and Lina Zerkle.

More than 85 people and businesses contributed to the park fund.

“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s support in helping us make this goal so quickly,” Town Manager TenaWoenker said in a news release. “We can’t wait to break ground on the park this summer.”

The new park at Walnut and Center streets will have spaces for walking, playing and relaxing, Woenker said.

The first phase of park construction this year will include digging a fishing pond,building a sledding hill and adding a trail, landscaping and fenced dog run, Woenker said.

Public participation plays an instrumental role in determining the goals and direction of the Waterloo Parks Department and the recreational needs of residents, she said.

Friday, Waterloo received approval of its five-year parks and recreation master plan from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The plan qualifies Waterloo for more state funding, Woenker said. The money could be used in 2021 to complete the new park with a veterans memorial sculpture, a connection to the Auburn-Waterloo Bikeway, more landscaping, benches and parking and possibly a pavilion or splash pad, Woenker said. 

Article source: https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_54c223c7-06a7-57e5-820b-45d1e71c9d47.html