Junior Pioneers Park Shelter close to completion
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NEW ULM -- The Park Shelter project at Junior Pioneer Park is chugging along, with a major chunk of the project completed.
The park, located at 1922 South Broadway Street, had been without a place where people could shelter and hide from the elements. If events could not withstand the elements, they would need to be canceled. Project Manager Larry Mack said the idea for a shelter came from clearing the land.
"We started clearing buckthorn and meeting out there for several years," he said. "When we did the buckthorn removal, we lead into where we’re going to take this. We put down some ideas on paper, but safety was the first concern [before making additions]."
After coming down for the 150th anniversary of the US Dakota War, Loren and Pat Kraetz took an interest in the park and adding more amenities. In 2019, Mack was contacted by Terry Sveine about using the cleared space. The Kraetz's agreed to become major investors in building a large shelter for the park. After missing an initial start date in 2022, ground broke on April 25, 2023. After six months, Mack said the work is around 90% complete.
"I think it’s huge," he said. "It shows a significant reinvestment for our future. It’s reinvesting back in our community and what our forefathers started. We want to see it there for another 100 years and to see activities out there within the community. It’s very unique for an organization to own a park for over 100 years. When this park was developed, it was to benefit all residents of the city and not be restricted to the Junior Pioneers."
For the most part, Mack said the progress has moved at the anticipated pace. The Junior Pioneers are hoping to have the structure fully completed by Spring 2024. One issue the contractors have had to contend with is the topography of the surrounding area.
"The entire park is on a slope," Mack said. "Trying to find a balance and have a good place to put it. You don’t want to be too close to the Cottonwood River or stay too close to the stormwater creek. You want to be able to use the rest of the park. The park is about four and a half acres."
A matter of great importance for this project has been using local craftsmen whenever possible. Farasyn Construction was initially partnered with Adam Reinhart's A.R.R. Construction as general contractors. After Steve Farasyn died in August, A.R.R. Construction transitioned into the leading role. Mack said other contractors involved include Pinnacle Masonry, American Artstone, Master Electric, and M.R. Paving and Excavating.
Mack said there is hope for an open house when the shelter opens. The only work left to complete is the interior, followed by painting the ceiling and landscaping to get it ready in the spring. Because there is no water running to the building, Mack said the current unfinished structure should be fine throughout the winter and ready by the deadline.
There are no current plans to add more amenities. Any future projects would need to be approved by the Junior Pioneers board.
For more information, go to https://jrpioneers.com/