By Mari Radkte
Brett Nelson and Krayton Struve updated the Paullina City Council on their progress toward raising sufficient funds to build a splash pad at the City Park. The early estimates for the project reached $520,000. After a presentation and request to the City Council to act on their goal last fall they have raised $509,356. Some fundraising efforts, such as the 5K Walk/Run kicking off Gemboree and a grant application decision or two are still underway. Some donations are in-kind, such as the approximately $20,000 of concrete, or the use of specialty tools. There are still 5 splash pad elements that could be named, maybe as a dedication. There are also donor clubs an interested person or organization can put some money toward. A new amenity being considered is dedication benches. They are thinking 6-8 is plenty.
They have heard from a few of their grant applications. The won the big one – Iowa Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. They were awarded $250,000. The location has been inspected and the project is approved for full funding. The project cannot begin at all before this grant is signed. DNR estimates 12-24 months to be ready to fund the project.
Grant funds have also been won from Taylor Family Foundation, O’Brien County Community Foundation Grant and an IMT grant. Grant awards total $284,500.
Nelson and Struve were recently notified that they would have to engage a civil engineer for the plumbing designs.
Little Critters will be built near Commerce Street and the park. A date is not being given as the DNR grant remains unknown when it will fund the project, but a guess is looking at late 2026. However, starting a water project in fall or winter doesn’t seem like an exciting idea, Nelson noted.