By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, area residents and businesses have continued to show support for the ARC Park project — allowing organizers to set a tentative opening date for the playground to be built at 33rd and Hillcrest in Hays.
Since March, several donations have come in, including the latest $5,000 donation from Sunrise AgriBusiness Solutions.
Since March 4, Rob and Megan Miller also contributed $5,000, Royal Roofing & Remodeling contributed $1,000, Kathy Pfeifer contributed $500, and fundraising efforts at O’Laughlin and Wilson elementary schools brought in another $533 and $1,385, respectively.
Those recent donations have helped push the total amount raised to $625,000 — close enough to the goal that the ARC Park board is planning to start construction with an opening date tentatively planned for September.
Originally, equipment for the playground was to be ordered in May, but COVID-19 changed plans as construction companies deal with continually changing projects, travel restrictions and distancing guidelines.
“We want to get it out there as quickly as we can,” said Sarah Meitner, Arc of the Central Plains board president.
The playground will be phase one of a three-stage project, which will ultimately include a splash pad and baseball field, designed to be inclusive for everyone, including those with disabilities.
While organizers believe they are close enough in funding to begin the construction process, they are continuing to seek construction partners that might be willing to donate dirt and concrete work in order to fully utilize funds raised for equipment.
“There is a lot of it,” said Kathy McAdoo, Arc of the Central Plains executive director. “The excavation of that project is a 15,000-square-foot area.”
If a partner cannot be secured, adjustments will be made to the design to bring the current expected cost of $760,000 down.
The primary goal is to open the playground on time, even if some equipment needs to be removed from the design to keep to the amount of funds available.
“So if we have to make some changes to get that done we are going to do it,” said Brent Kaiser, Arc of the Central Plains activities director.
One change that is being finalized is the amount of turf that will be used in the playground area after an in-kind donation of turf was made by Thomas More Prep-Marian graduate and president of ForeverLawn-Mile High in Colorado Springs, Trey Moeder.
Initially, Moeder pledged turf for the baseball field, but after offering to put in turf in the playground as well, the playground plans are being adjusted.
“We looked at the design and which areas could have turf and which areas still need the pour-in-place,” Meitner said.
The toddler area and under the zip line were determined to be the best fit for turf.
“It’s actually better,” Kaiser said. “It’s padded.”
While they haven’t put a number on paper, Meitner said the original pledge was around $60,000 and it is possible it would be another $60,000 for playground turf.
“That alone will bring our cost down, which is what makes us feel like ‘let’s go ahead,' ” Meitner said. “If we can chip away at that with this turf change and any other in-kind (donations, we think we can close the gap.”
The latest design from the project engineer that incorporates the change and is expected any day.
Once a final plan is decided upon, organizers will seek approval from the city and begin scheduling construction efforts, but the developer hopes to have the project complete by Sept. 1 — a timeline that will rely on construction companies that have seen significant impacts to scheduling during the pandemic.
“We know building schedules have been affected,” Meitner said. “Our developer tells us they have actually been bumped ahead on schedule.”
Even after the playground is completed, organizers will continue to push ahead with fundraising efforts for the ball field and splash pad, but recognize the challenge of asking for funds while many people and businesses struggle to recover from COVID-19.
“We understand everybody is hurting right now,” Kaiser said, noting they would continue to be resourceful in securing funds moving forward and not simply ask for donations alone.
And Meitner said they want to fundraise “carefully,” with the understanding some nonprofits still need to raise money for operating expenses.
“They are all super important to our community,” Kaiser said. “Some of them are hurting, and we want to make sure they are getting what they need.”