Neighborhoods Community Orgs Outdoors
‘A Celebration of Mt. Simon for Mt. Simon’ With Area Neighborhood Association
Eau Claire community members raise money to create inviting spaces at their local park
Hattie Goethals, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Have you ever been stuck in that tricky situation where you have to use the restroom, but the nearest one is a quarter-mile or further away? That's the current reality for Mt. Simon Park visitors (1100 Addison Ave., Eau Claire), but community members from the Northside Hill Neighborhood Association (NHNA) are working to change that.
Members from the NHNA have come together to raise funds for new restroom facilities at Mt. Simon Park. A “Party for the Parks” neighborhood celebration and fundraiser will take place from noon-7pm on Sept. 12 at the Eau Claire park.
Think food trucks, live music, raffle prizes, yard games, a disc golf tournament and community camaraderie.
In April, the NHNA received a donation from the Jane Honadel estate, to be used specifically toward new amenities for the area's parks. Mt. Simon’s first improvement from that donation was building a new playground.
After locals and NHNA members were able to enjoy this new amenity, Andrew Niese, president of NHNA, said they wanted to keep the ball rolling and stay proactive about improvements being made.
“Parks are cornerstones of the neighborhood, they’re what make our city great,” Niese said.
The Party for the Parks project itself debuted on May 26 at The Lakely, raising $400 to kickstart the new community project. Since then, a GoFundMe has seen donations amount to over $2,000.
The next goal for the fundraiser is to reach $70,000 – for the restroom facilities installation. The GoFundMe will be open until that goal is met.
“Parks are cornerstones of the neighborhood, they’re what make our city great.”
Andrew Niese
president, Northside Hill Neighborhood Association
Starting at 11am on Sept. 12, the first annual Disc Golf Mt. Simon Classic will begin using the 18-hole course around the park. Each player will pay a $20 entry fee that will go towards the fundraiser, with the top three finishers winning cash prizes.
If you are thinking of ways to support the project beyond giving money, don’t worry – community members and businesses are able to sponsor a hole in the tournament.
Along with disc golf, event goers are welcome to join pick up volleyball and yard games to get competitive with friends and family.
Local music acts ECedm, Woodzen, and The Jaggernauts will also perform throughout the event (set times have not been confirmed but will be updated on the Party for the Parks website). Smackdaddy’s Gourmet Grub and Primal Pizza Company will also be there to satisfy your tastebuds.
Admission is free to the Party for the Parks event, but NHNA notes a suggested donation of $10 per person for those who are able. No one will be turned away for not donating.
“It’s also, I think, about demonstrating the power of people coming together to rally around a cause and what seems like an impossible goal for one person can suddenly become a lot more attainable when folks (come together),” Niese said.
If Sept. 12 sounds like a familiar date, that’s because it is also when the annual Eau Claire Fall Festival begins. Downtown Eau Claire Inc. (DECI) and the Party for the Parks fundraiser have worked together, staggering their events during the day to ensure community members and visitors can make both events if they so choose.
“The support has been great,” Niese said. “We’ve got volunteers from inside and outside of the neighborhood who are ready to show up and put this event on.”
“It’s going to be a celebration of Mt. Simon for Mt. Simon,” Niese said.
For more information and ways to support Party for the Parks, visit the fundraisers website at www.nothsidehill.org/party. Stop by Mt. Simon Park on Sept. 12 for the Party for the Park event!
