The Superior Express -

The splash pad project in Mankato is making progress. There has been $38,720 raised for the project. A grant application was submitted to Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the project was awarded $25,000.

Midway Co-op donated $2,500 and CoBank matched that donation for a total of $5,000. Guaranty State Bank also donated $1,500. The remaining funds have been raised by local donations and fundraisers.

Contracts have already been placed with Mankato Plumbing to handle the plumbing at the site, which is just north of the pavilion at the Mankato City Park. J. Williams Masonry will do the cement work for the splash pad as well as installing a retaining wall around the site. Current raised money will pay for both contracts and additional fundraising is still being done to order the kit for the splash pad.

The city council approved the splash pad but has designated the responsibility of raising all funds to Christina Jeffery. Jeffery hopes that with additional donations and grants, the project will be fully funded by Christmas 2021. This allows for the kit to be ordered and work to be completed to have the pad fully operational by Mankato’s 150th Celebration Memorial Day 2022. 

The City of Mankato will maintain the splash pad and pay for water usage.

If you would like to donate, you can write a check to State Exchange Bank - endowment fund. In the memo line, write Splash Pad Project. Donations can be mailed to Christina Jeffery, 1117 W. South, Mankato, KS 66956. If you can’t do a monetary donation but would still like to be a part of the project, contact Christina.

Other fundraising plans are in the works.