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Community volunteers and the William Penn men’s soccer team help build a new playground at Beacon’s City Park Friday. The playground was started by Jennifer Thomas-Nelson, the mayor’s wife, a year-and-a-half ago. Herald photo by Anthony Capps
Ready, set go to new playground in Beacon
BEACON — Volunteers gathered at the Beacon City Park to assemble the city’s new playground Friday.
The group of builders included the 29-member William Penn men’s soccer team and several volunteers from around the community.
The project began about a year and a half ago when Jennifer Thomas-Nelson, a Beacon resident, realized that a lot of the equipment the city had would not be covered by insurance. She began to plan a new playground at the city park.
“The first year or so was mostly planning and deciding on the equipment, and everything had to be approved by the city council. The fundraising was afterwards,” she said.
Nelson said she needed help from the community as well as businesses and grants.
“I had a lot of support from the community,” she said. “We held a community fundraiser this spring. It was like one Beacon use to have years ago when the community would come together – which was last held 20 years ago.”
Donors for the project included Clow Valve, Mid American Energy, Thomas Sanitation, Pella Corp., Vermeer, Leighton Meat Locker and Community 1st Credit Union. Services for the project included Musco, Van Gorps, Earl May, Morre Construction, Curry Construction, JT Designs, Hy-Vee, Binn & Stevens and Steven’s Concrete.
The Mahaska County Community Foundation was also a big help in getting the project funded.
“Jennifer went for every grant she could apply for. The MCCF was also a help in the amount of money they received from them,” said Sherry Vavra, director of the Mahaska Community Recreation Trail.
Vavra said Nelson even did some of the work herself.
“She even took two horses that were one of the items children would sit and rock on, and repainted and really restored them herself.”
The total cost of the project was $32,758. The equipment came from Miracle Recreation Equipment Company.
Nelson said they were in the process of adding a basketball court.
“We hope to start soon. I think it can be done by the fall,” she said. “The court still needs some money though. We have had several donations and recently got lights for it from Musco.”
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