Clarion, Iowa – A vibrant community spirit is taking root with the recent re-establishment of the Clarion Parks & Recreation Group. Charged with a mission to enhance the town's recreational spaces, this dedicated team is set to begin fundraising efforts in a unique and festive way with a Holiday Home Tour.
Clarion currently has five public parks scattered throughout the community. The City Council has touched on the need for updating our parks at recent meetings. In an effort to get the ball rolling, six community members, Ali Disney, Mikayla Walker, Elizabeth McOllough, Ben Kenobbie, Matt Ring, and Cristian Tomayo Calles, have been charged with the responsibility.
The community-driven committee is re-established from a past group. With many older pieces of equipment at our parks in disrepair or no longer meeting safety standards, their goal is to create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.
This dedicated team is set to begin fundraising efforts in a unique and festive way with a Holiday Home Tour. Inspired by successful events in other areas, the committee aims to celebrate the unique architectural styles and holiday decorations of Clarion homes. Ticket sales for the inaugural event will contribute significantly to the first planned project: the revitalization of playground equipment at Gazebo Park.
“We have plans to begin with Gazebo Park, as it has a newer piece of equipment we can build upon. We love the idea of showing our town one great park improved, as a jumping board to complete the others. But obviously, none of this is happening overnight. If citizens are unaware, playground equipment can be a very expensive update, some ranging from $ 100,000 to millions. We want to be realistic while also dreaming a little bit with some fun new equipment options,” stated committee member Ali Disney.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the Tour of Homes on Sunday, December 10th. The event promises a social hour, home tours, and progressive appetizer buffets that all begin at Fuel. Tickets are priced at $40.00 each and are available for purchase at First State Bank, Italics Boutique, or online by scanning the QR code that accompanies this article.
Because of the time constraints, the team considered five homes within the community that are well known for their architectural designs and holiday decor. The homes will be diversly decorated with a mix of “great holiday decorating from classy to minimalistic”, shared Disney.
She also expressed delight that the first five families to be asked to partake eagerly accepted. Sam and Kristina Moore, Ben Kenobbie and Dakota VanHauen, Bruce and Lori Frink, Brad and Amy Reiter, and Steven Simonin are all opening their doors to the public on Sunday, December 10th.
The team hopes that the event will grow larger each year it is hosted. A formal selection process will be considered in the future. The team emphasized that improving the parks is a collaborative effort requiring support from the entire community.
The Parks & Recreation Group looks forward to a future where each park reflects the community. Stay connected with their journey through the Clarion Parks & Recreation Facebook page.
