By Kate H. Elliott—
DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—Linda and Stan Geidel have lived through 30 years of lemonade stands, bike rides and garage sales in the Country Village-Creekwood neighborhood north of Muncie. Over the years, they watched the once shiny but small playground transform from a family gathering spot to an aged, abandoned eyesore.
The couple made a donation to kick off a campaign to purchase and install a new, larger structure. It’s a gift, Geidel said, for families to enjoy the same sense of community that filled their lives.
“Our family benefited so much from living here, and we want to make sure future generations of children might also have a great childhood,” said Geidel, who was named the Neighborhood Leader of the Year in 2019 at the Intentional Development and Education for Association Members (IDEA) Conference. “We also wanted to honor our parents, who were hard-working, family-oriented people who sacrificed a lot so that we could have a great experience growing up.”
A Collaborative, Grant-funded Effort
Geidel joined Mitch Isaacs, outgoing CVCNA president, to co-chair the effort to gather support and funds for the multi-level play structure with slides, climbing walls, and swing sets. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority matched up to $22,500 of the dollars raised through the CreatINg Places grant program. In July, the campaign reached $35,000 of its $45,000 goal bringing the grand total, including other gifts, to more than $120,000.
Isaacs, executive director of Shafer Leadership Academy, said the new playground will replace the aging tennis courts and playground behind the Country Village Pool. Nearly 90 donors have contributed to the project so far, he said, and any additional donations will fund additional playground equipment. Isaacs said the playground is expected to break ground in October.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the collection of people, businesses, foundations, and government agencies who came together to make this a reality,” said Isaacs, who served as CVCNA president for five years. “Our neighborhood is proud to stand at the center of a such a noble effort. Projects like these demonstrate what can be accomplished with people come together in service of a shared vision.”
One of those additional gifts came from the County Commissioners who provided $40,000 towards the project. According to Isaacs, “The Commissioners gift provided momentum which helped the project raise additional funds. Their participation played a huge role in getting this done.” The Ziegler and George and Frances Ball foundations also supported the effort.
Part of a Grand Revitalization Plan
The effort is part of a larger revitalization effort that began two years ago. Amanda Kishel, CVCNA president, said the association is working to expand a small parking area and add a recreational trail. These improvements are priceless, she said, to the roughly 350 residents of this multigenerational community north of Muncie.
“We are so pleased with how many local organizations, our County Commissioners and families in Country Village rallied together to raise the funds needed for our dream playground,” she said. “As of a mother of two, I know playgrounds are a huge part of everyday life with children. Our playground is a centrally located in our neighborhood and will be a great place for parents to meet other parents and for kids to play with their friends. The location of the new playground really is key to bringing all the different parts of our neighborhood together.”
Geidel, who serves as secretary of the neighborhood association, said he has no doubt the community will come together to continue to raise funds for the neighborhood’s remaining needs.
Learn more about the project and ways to support the effort, which include corporate sponsorship and plaque opportunities on the Campaign website.
Just as every resident matters, every gift matters, Geidel said.
