Photo: Western Iowa Networks and Aureon present members of the Westside Economic Development Organization with a $300 check for paving stones in the Eugene Kock Memorial Park to be constructed along Highway 30 in Westside (lot pictured behind). From left to right: Wes Treadway of Western Iowa Networks; Matt Lujano with WEDO; Jerry Quandt, President WEDO; JD Siebert with Aureon; and Steve Mumm with WEDO
Even though Tuesday night’s storm did some damage and left a few residents and businesses without power in Westside, members of WE DO, the Westside Economic Development Organization, gathered to accept a $300 grant from Western Iowa Networks and Aureon. The grant money is to be used to construct a veterans’ park along Highway 30 in memory of Eugene Kock, a Westside resident who lost his life in the Vietnam War. WE DO member, Sandy Hunter explained how the idea for the park came about.
The park will be located on one of the sites the organization had previously cleared. According to committee and city council member Matt Lujano, the site wasn’t suited to building single or multi-family residences, but it is perfect for the park. Steve Mumm, who was a friend of Kock’s, shared plans for the layout and WE DO President, Jerry Quandt and Lujano detailed what will be in the park.
The monument will be the centerpiece of the park with the fallen soldier statue specific to the Vietnam War that is being constructed by an artist in Omaha, Neb. The grant received on Wednesday is added to the nearly $42,000 already raised for the project, which is expected to cost about double that. The organization is currently selling the 25 pound engraved paving stones for $100 each as a fundraiser, and Hunter says the great thing about these is that they don’t have to be a memorial to a veteran, they can commemorate anyone or any event that is meaningful to the people of Westside.
Hunter said the surprising thing to them was that the majority of the first pavers sold were to those people from out of town, with local sales following closely behind. To date, they have sold 166, with room to sell over 300 now and in the future. The furnishings and pergola for the park received donations early one, with only one of the three flag poles still available. Plaques of the donors will be placed on those items. WE DO is hoping to get to work on construction of the park in mid-August or early September and have it completed prior to the end of the construction season. Western Iowa Networks is a shareholder/partner with Aureon, formerly Iowa Network Services, who has provided over $850,000 to local communities to advance their neighborhoods.
