Submitted by: Greg Carlson
On January 25, the name of the new community center at New Generations Park was officiallly unveiled as the Farwest Rotary Community Center.
Bismarck Farwest Rotary President Sheldon Kauk, stated that Steve Neu, former Bismarck Parks and Recreation District Executive Director and current Farwest Rotary Club member, helped inspire club participation in the project. “Steve is the one who brought the project to the club. At the time he was BPRD Executive Director and a member of our club,” Kauk says. “We’ve been involved with the project since about 2006. The club has about 33 members and we’re an active group. It’s been great to see all the work and planning come to fruition," Kauk explained.
Since 2008, Farwest Rotary has donated $40,653 to the Bismarck Recreation Council to support development of New Generations Park in northwest Bismarck. In 2018, Farwest Rotary committed another $25,000 to the park for a total of $65,653 in contributed funds. In addition, Farwest Rotary park district matching grants of $51,780 result in cumulative total commitment of $117,443 for park development. Farwest Rotary has committed to contributing another $25,000 to New Generations Park by donating $5,000 annually for the next five years (2019-2023). The total cash contribution at the end of this pledge would be $142,443, with which would result in a cumulative total contribution of $167,443 if park district matching grant funds are received annually during this span.
Pictured (l-r) are Farwest Rotary Club President Sheldon Kauk, Board of Park Commissioners President Brian Beattie, ND Parks and Recreation Department Grant Administrator Genny Giese and Bismarck Parks and Recreation District Executive Director Randy Bina.The Farwest Rotary Community Center, located on Valley Drive in northwest Bismarck, will serve as the warming house for the new outdoor ice rinks at New Generationns Park during the winter months and can be reserved at other times of the year for family gatherings and special occasions.
For more information sisit the Farwest Rotary Community Center page on the Bismarck Parks and Recreation website.