A month ago, the United Way of the Flint Hills was named as one of three recipients of a $10,000 grant through the Evergy Energize Our Environment Hometown Grant program.
United Way Executive Director Daphne Mertens stated at that time that the funds have been earmarked for an addition to Emporia’s Quaker Park, specifically a 10-foot climbing wall. During discussions on the project with Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday afternoon, United Way Healthy Pathways Coordinator Deon Morrow stated that the climbing wall, which has a price tag of just over $12,000, has received additional backing from an anonymous local donor who contributed just over $1,000 towards the effort.
On top of this, the city of Emporia is considering a contribution of an additional $1,250 to complete the installation of the wall according to City Manager Trey Cocking.
At the time of the Evergy grant announcement, Mertens also stated the wall may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new additions. Based on Wednesday’s report from Morrow, there is already a lot of planning going into those future phases.
Nothing has been set in stone as of yet, however, Morrow says the United Way has secured a grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to fund community activities in the park, which could help further develop the path forward.
According to renderings shown Wednesday, the ultimate layout of the park could be similar to a course from American Ninja Warrior with several apparatus and amenities aimed at increasing fitness while also providing a fun and active atmosphere for park goers.
As KVOE News has reported since the announcement of the Evergy grant, any additions to the park will be significant when you consider the fact that the park was placed on the city’s surplus property list with plans of converting it into a small housing development just a year ago. A petition campaign was then developed in opposition to those plans, gaining hundreds of signatures and ultimately leading to the commissioners changing their minds.
Resident Eric Paul was one of the individuals who helped develop and lead the petition campaign and has an active role in the Quaker climbing wall project. Paul says there is a “great lesson” that came from that situation.
An exact timeline for the wall’s installation and movement of the climbing wall to future phases of work has not been announced at this time. The Quaker Park update was presented just a few short hours before city and community leadership attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Whittier Skate Park.
Cocking, in an interview with KVOE News Thursday morning, stated “it has been great to see these public spaces being brought back to life.”
For questions or more information on the work at Quaker Park or how you can get involved, contact the United Way of the Flint Hills by calling 620-342-7564, visiting Unitedwayoftheflinthills.org, or finding the United Way on Facebook.
