Community Pride kicking off campaign to fund paved parking area, terraced wall at Memory Gardens in Waukon City Park
A donation of $2,000 from the Waukon Lions Club kicks off a fundraising drive for a paved parking area and terraced wall and walkway leading to Memory Gardens in the Waukon City Park. Pictured above at the donation presentation (left to right) are Bud Strike and Wayne Burk of the Community Pride Committee and Rosean and Tom Phipps of the Waukon Lions Club. Pictured below is a sketch of the proposed parking area to be located along Eleventh Avenue SW where the current gravel parking area is located. Also visible in the sketch (labeled A, B and C) toward the bottom of the image below are the series of wall terraces that will support the hillside from the Memory Gardens area to the parking area, with a series of steps (pictured at far left in the image below) providing access up and down the hill. Submitted photos.
Lions Club donates initial $2,000 to the project, Waukon couple pledges to match up to $15,000 in raised funds
Memory Gardens lies in the southwest corner of the Waukon City Park, adjacent to both Indian Springs Pond and Eleventh Avenue SW. The area has been developed over the past 10 years by a volunteer group called Community Pride utilizing all voluntarily donated contributions; no taxpayer money has been involved in its development.
The continued improvement efforts within the area have resulted in a covered picnic table structure overlooking Memory Gardens with steps leading to a paved walkway that takes visitors across a bridge over a stream that flows into Indian Springs Pond. A number of rock-filled berms dot the surrounding valley area, along with 68 trees planted in honor of individuals or families, and marked as such. The popularity of those dedicated tree plantings has resulted in the Memory Gardens area doubling from its original size, now covering two acres. Several benches, many also dedicated in honor of loved ones, have also been placed throughout the area.
With the Memory Gardens area having been developed into such a serene, welcome location, the Community Pride organization's next project is to develop the accessibility and utility of the area with a paved parking area and a terraced wall that includes a walkway from that parking area down into Memory Gardens and will be located adjacent to the covered picnic table gazebo structure overlooking Memory Gardens. Community Pride has kicked off a campaign to help fund that project, with a Waukon couple already pledging to match up to $15,000 in donated funds.
The Waukon Lions Club recently gave the funding campaign an initial boost with a $2,000 donation. Anyone wishing to donate to such a project may do so at any local bank, where containers labeled "Memory Gardens Project" are currently located. Donations are tax deductible and checks can be made out to Waukon City Park Memory Garden. Any gift of $250 or more will be recognized on a memorial stone that will be part of the entrance platform next to the paved parking area.
Anyone needing additional information about the paved parking area or about Memory Gardens may contact Community Pride members Wayne Burk, at 563-380-2052, or Dick Roggensack, at 563-568-4488.
