Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
EMMA CHORONZ, an eighth-grade student at Wakefield-Marenisco School, takes an order from school board member Kim Zeckovich and her family, including husband, Tom, and son, Eli, during the pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Wakefield VFW post 9084 on Sunday for a skate park to be built at the Eddy Park tennis courts.
By CHARITY SMITH
Wakefield - Ten eighth grade students from the Wakefield Marenisco School District got up early on Mother's Day morning to wait tables at the Wakefield VFW Post 9084, in an effort to raise funds for a skate park to be built on the Eddy Park tennis courts.
The students came up with the idea during a social studies class last fall and presented it to the city planning commission. After some discussion, the commission and the city council approved their idea, provided the students come up with the funding and purchase certified equipment.
Chris Tweiten, a social studies teacher at Wakefield-Marenisco who oversees the school's skateboard club, said the kids had received several surveys from the city over the years, asking for ideas as to what they would like to see the city have for youth recreation. Tweiten said the students have repeatedly asked for a skate park as they couldn't easily get to the ones offered in neighboring communities.
This is the second pancake fundraiser the students have held for the cause. Nicole DelFavero, a parental volunteer, said the students served 200 people on Sunday. Tweiten said the event raised $3,655.
The funds will go towards the purchase of additional features for the skateboard park.
DelFavero the students have surpassed their goal. She said the surplus funds will go towards the maintenance of the skate park, as the students will also be responsible for its upkeep.
Tweiten said they hope to have the skate park built by the end of May.
