New Miners Park Dedication
Negaunee recognized last year that it needed a new space to improve the lives of its young people.
This afternoon, the city takes time to dedicate and open that space.
Students at Lakeview Elementary got involved in the ribbon-cutting and dedication at Miners Park.
And they were also involved in the planning.
Their ‘Pennies for the Park’ fundraiser helped pay for the work.
Anna Mattson is on the city’s Parks & Rec Committee, and she was eager to tap into the kids’ creativity.
She says as someone who worked in the Negaunee schools for 18 years, she knows what kids are capable of, so she wanted them to take ownership of the new park.
And they did.
She says the kids behind ‘Pennies for the Park’ were the first people to come up with funding.
The kids have collected more than $4,100 so far, and that covered the cost of the playground equipment.
Some other outside help came in for a different item the city wanted.
City Councilor Jim Thomas says when the Steelworkers’ Union local heard the city wanted a pavilion for Miners Park, they donated, free of charge, a wooden pavilion that they already had at their union hall.
He says it saved city taxpayers quite a bit of money.
People are already using the pavilion for birthday parties, family gatherings and other celebrations.
So, starting New Year’s Day, Negaunee Parks & Rec will start taking reservations for it.