The community and area support for Olpe’s Fitness Park project was evident at the first-ever Green Machine Gala fundraiser Saturday night.
With nearly 300 people in attendance and a strong list of sponsors, nearly $50,000 was generated for the multifaceted community project even before the live auction started at Olpe’s Knights of Columbus Hall. The final total? Just under $100,000.
Organizer Tyler Schmidt was blown away by what he saw.
Fundraising from Saturday night helps to meet the now $2.5 million goal for Phase 1 construction, including a new football stadium, including field, eight-lane track, bleachers, press box and fencing; as well as the start of a fitness trail. The current fundraising total is around $1.6 million, and Schmidt says the target is to reach the Phase 1 goal by June.
Other aspects of the project have included a splash pad, which was already the focus of separate fundraising efforts before the larger project was announced, as well as a new basketball court, new softball field, new layout for the baseball field and a field house including a community center, community weight room and early childcare center.
