Memory Park gets boost from MLAF, Toro

MLHS ag students constructing pair of pergolas to add to park’s ambiance

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A “BEFORE” VIEW of Memory Park, located northeast of the 10th Street and 2nd Avenue intersection.

 

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THE ADDITION OF the two pergolas as a “work in progress.” The garden feature will add shade structures over each bench in Memory Park. Completing the construction project are the ag classes at Mountain Lake Public High School. At work this hour is a group of senior ag students.

 

The development of a new park in the city – Memory Park – located at the northeast corner of 10th Street and 2nd Avenue, east of the Laker Bar & Grill, has shifted into high gear with a couple of funding donations. The Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has undertaken several downtown beautification projects over the past couple years, with the development of this park one of those efforts.

Over $2,000 has been given by the Mountain Lake Area Foundation (MLAF) pinpointed to develop the area, as well as a $10,000 grant in city beautification funds presented to Mountain Lake by Toro of Windom in celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary, will also be used to create a welcoming park space.

The park already offers green space accented by four paver stone walkways that converge at a center point that features a pair of wooden park benches and a colorful flower garden.

In the process of being added to the park’s ambiance are two cedar pergolas (or shade shelters) over each bench, constructed by the ag classes of Tom Appel, Lindsey Brown and Stephen Funk of Mountain Lake Public High School’s (MLHS) ag department.

Additionally, as part of Memory Park, the Chamber sponsors a Downtown Memory Walk Paver Stone Program.  The specially-engraved paver stones are placed in the walkways of the park.

Throughout the years, this corner had been a home spot for many businesses, most notably the State Bank of Mountain Lake, which later became the First State Bank of Mountain Lake and the Mountain Lake Public Library. Eventually, the years took its toll on the then-vacant building, creating an eyesore, and was eventually town down. That left an opening for rehabilitation of the corner as a new park,

 

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CENTRAL TO THE new park has been the flower garden and pair of benches that meet at the intersection of four walkways.

 

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NOW, CANOPIED OVER each bench are pergolas, construction work by Mountain Lake Public High School ag students. In this photo, from left, Nick Menken, Daniel Nelson and Levi Jahnke center one board at the top of the shade shelter for attachment.

 

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AUSTIN SUDERMAN ACCURATELY marks the measurements on the boards headed to the saw.

 

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LOGAN JOHNSON, CENTER, assisted by Carlos Liracardona, right, make the right cuts with the saw. At left back, Jared Willaby is set with the next board to meet the saw’s teeth.

 

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AFTER ERIC-JOHN Niss De Jesus, right, is done drilling the hole, Caleb Rempel, left, joins the boards with a heavy-duty bolt.

 

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AT CENTER BACK, Madelyn Regier is able to stretch out her frame in order to place a bolt in the drilled hole, as Caleb Rempel, left and Eric-John Niss De Jesus, right, stand ready with additional nuts and bolts.

 

THE FINISHED SHADE shelter pergolas.
THE FINISHED SHADE shelter pergolas.

 

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THE FOUR WALKWAYS are spotted with Memory Walk Paver Stones which honor or memorialize individuals, couples, families, groups or businesses.
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