Friends of Zeandale Community WCF

Goal: $75,000.00

Specific Need

Specific Needs

To replace aged equipment and develop volleyball courts, pickleball courts, horseshoe pits and open areas that could also be used for physical exercise and entertainment. The goal is to provide areas that will afford shaded amenities with a meeting place for our community and its families and friends.

Mission

Being a rural community, our goal is to provide safe, accessible meeting and recreational facilities for community members and visitors.

Profile

Have you ever driven the Native Stone Scenic Byway that goes from Manhattan through Zeandale (Greek for corn valley) KS, either on a bike or in your car? If you haven’t then you are missing out on one of the most beautiful drives in the area. You will be pleasantly surprised when you make the big curve revealing a beautiful view of the valley. Many visitors have often stopped in Zeandale just to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of “corn valley”. Zeandale is located halfway between Manhattan and Wamego.

Since 1855 the folks of the Zeandale community have had a place they could gather to visit, share family events, play cards, have club meetings etc.

The Red brick Zeandale School was the third school building to serve the community. It was built in the late 1940’s with the first classes held in 1949 and was occupied as a Zeandale School until 1975. After unification Wamego sent the 4th grade classes to Zeandale for the next 71/2 years. It was closed in 1982 and was turned back to the community in 1984 for use as a community center.

Because our community center had to be torn down in 2022, and with playground equipment that no longer met safety standards, we had to make a change. There had been a void in our community that we wished to fill.

Our vision of Zeandale park bringing the community together again was so much better than we could have imagined. So many of our friends, neighbors, and businesses have generously given of their time, talents, and treasure to bring us this far in our plans for a relaxing, fun, and beautiful place to enjoy.

However, the realization of the cost of Phase I post-Covid is that it exceeded our pre-Covid estimate of $175,000. The Friends of Zeandale has raised the initial amount of $175,000, but Phase I is not quite completed.

We have signed a contract to build a Pickleball court and the concrete will be poured this fall. The court will be completed in the Spring due to concrete curing time.

Individuals or companies may make donations which should be directed to the Wamego Community Foundation and noted for Friends of Zeandale Community.

We are offering the following community features to be available for sponsorship with naming rights. These can also be purchased in memory of or in honor of loved ones.

Tree sponsorship - $500: 5 available
Benches - $1,000: 2 available
Picnic Tables - $2,000: 4 available
Volleyball Court - $2,500: available
Pickleball Court - $15,000: available

We hope you will consider supporting this project and coming out to enjoy the Zeandale Community Park as Phase 1 is nearing completion. If you have any questions, please contact Diane or Larry Hoobler, Laura or Mark Warner, Jan Taggart, Holly McHugh, Judy Kimball, Donna Parks, or Clinton Parsons.

We cannot fully express our gratitude for your generous support! Without your support we could not have made our beautiful community park a reality. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Note: The included pictures are of the park as of September 1, 2024. We would love for you to visit and check it our and enjoy yourselves. Please click on picture to see more of the view.