Kerkhoven Parks & Rec

04/08/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Tami & Tom Freetly for their generous $10,000 donation to the Pillsbury Park Playground Project!

With this gift, they are recognized as a Playground Enthusiast Sponsor, and their support is making a meaningful difference in bringing this project to life.

This is more than just a donation—it’s an investment in our community. In our kids. In a space where families will gather, friendships will grow, and memories will be made for years to come.

Tami and Tom—thank you for believing in this vision and helping us move one step closer to a playground built for everyone. 💛

✨ Powered by community. Built for kids. ✨

04/05/2026

🐰🌸 Happy Easter, Kerkhoven! 🐣🌷

We hope your day is filled with family, fresh air, and maybe even a stop at one of our beautiful parks. 💛

As we head into a new season, we’re so excited for everything ahead—especially continuing to build spaces for our kids and families to enjoy together. 🌿

✨ Tell us—what’s your favorite Easter tradition? 👇

03/26/2026

03/25/2026

✨ Pillsbury Park Playground Update ✨

We wanted to take a moment to share where things stand and how close we truly are to making this project a reality for our community.

💰 Where we are today: Our committee has raised a total of $114,571.15 toward the new Pillsbury Park Playground. Of that, $100,375 has come from incredibly generous donors specifically for this project. The remaining $14,571 was raised following the completion of the Centennial Park playground. The City has also set aside funds over time for future playground equipment ($15,000 total), which contribute to the project.

💡 Project Overview Projected Budget:
1️⃣Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF): $286,883.66
2️⃣Poured-in-Place Rubber (PIP): More than $500,000
There is a shared understanding that if the PIP option is selected, the City would be responsible for covering the approximate $200,000 difference compared to the EWF option.

💡 What this means: If we move forward with the engineered wood fiber option, we are within reach of completing this project—potentially within the next year—with:
✔️ A few additional donations
✔️ A successful matching grant
✔️ Continued community support

This is a HUGE milestone—and something to be incredibly proud of as a community.

🏗️ Looking back: We’ve done this before. Together, we raised over $60,000 for the Centennial Park playground, helping bring that project to life in 2023. This community shows up—and it makes a difference.

🏃‍♀️ Upcoming Fundraiser: We are excited to host the Pillsbury Push 5K/10K on July 25, 2026, with 100% of the profits going directly toward the Pillsbury Park Playground Project. This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year—and a fun way to support the project while bringing the community together!

🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities:We are actively seeking sponsors to help push this project forward. If your family, organization or your business are interested in becoming a sponsor, you can view our sponsorship packet here:👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LCn9ZQeqmFnfbS57FTJsfRLowzfj72b1/view?usp=sharing

🙋‍♀️ Get Involved – We Need You! We are also looking for more community members to join our Parks & Recreation Committee. If you’re passionate about our parks, events, and the future of Kerkhoven, we would love to have you!�
📅 We meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM�📍 Kerkhoven Ambulance Hall

❤️ What we need now:�To get this project across the finish line, we need continued support in a few key ways:
✔️Monetary Donation Sponsorships (big or small—it all adds up!)
✔️Attending and supporting our fundraisers (like the Pillsbury Push!)
✔️Sharing our posts to help spread the word

📣 We also want to hear from YOU:�
What kinds of fundraisers or events would you be excited about?�
What would get you, your family, or your business involved?
👇 Drop your ideas in the comments or send us a message! Our committee members are listed in the sponsorship packet if you would like to reach out to one of us directly.

This playground is more than just equipment—it’s a place for families to gather, kids to grow, and our community to connect for years to come.

03/24/2026

Let’s help our pool out! 💦

They’re looking for lifeguards for summer—such a fun job!

Tag someone who should apply 👇

NEW and RETURNING LIFEGUARDS! Make sure you get your applications turned into the Kerkhoven city office. Application deadline is April 3rd!!! Mr.Sikkink is hosting lifeguard training @ the kerk pool June 1st and 2nd. Talk to him to get signed up. Can’t wait to see all new and returning guards!!

03/13/2026

Fun Fact Friday!

Outdoor play increases Vitamin D levels, which supports bone growth and immune health.

Sunshine + movement = healthy kids.

03/10/2026

Trivia Tuesday

True or False: Children who play outside regularly tend to have stronger problem-solving and creativity skills. 👇 Drop your guess below!

03/10/2026

💚 MEMBER MONDAY

Behind every community project are dedicated volunteers working quietly behind the scenes to help make it happen. Each week we’re highlighting the people who are helping move the Pillsbury Park Playground Project forward.

Today we’re introducing Mandy — our Park & Rec Treasurer!

🏡 How long have you lived in the Kerkhoven area, and what do you love most about this community?
“My family and I moved to Kerkhoven about 5 years ago. What I love most about this community is how supportive and connected people are. It’s the kind of place where neighbors show up for one another and people truly care about making the community a great place to raise a family. Being part of the Park and Rec Committee has made me appreciate that even more because I’ve seen how willing people are to volunteer their time, share ideas, and support projects that make our town better for everyone.”

☕ What is your go-to coffee order or favorite treat from a local business?
“The Toasty Ivory from The Flavor Co. is my favorite, but I like to branch out and try her other flavors too.”

👨‍👩‍👧 As Treasurer and a mom of young kids, how does this project personally connect with you?
“As the treasurer, I help make sure we use our community’s resources wisely and build something that will serve families for many years to come. As a mom of young kids, this project is also very personal to me. I see how important parks and recreation spaces are for children to run, play, imagine, and simply be kids. Some of the best childhood memories are made in places like this. Being able to help create a safe space where my own children — and so many other families in our community — can gather, laugh, and make those memories is incredibly special to me. It’s more than just a project; it’s an investment in the joy and connection of our community.”

💡 What’s something you’ve learned about fundraising that surprised you?
“What surprised me most is how it reveals the heart of a community. So many people want to help create something meaningful for local families and kids, and it’s been inspiring to see that support come from so many different places.”

🎯 What financial milestone are you most excited to reach?
“I’m most excited to reach the milestone where we have secured enough funding to fully complete the project. That point represents a lot of careful planning, funding, and community support that have come together to make the project possible. Knowing we can deliver something valuable for families, kids, and residents is truly special to be a part of.”

🌳 Why do you believe the playground project is important for Kerkhoven’s future?
“I believe the playground project is important for Kerkhoven’s future because spaces like this help bring a community together. A playground isn’t just a place for kids to play — it’s where families gather, friendships are formed, and memories are made. Investing in a space like this shows that we care about creating opportunities for children to grow, explore, and stay active, while also giving families a place to connect. Projects like this help make Kerkhoven a place where people want to live, raise their families, and stay for years to come.”

👏 Thank you, Mandy, for helping guide this project and for your dedication to our community!

03/06/2026

Fun Fact Friday!

Modern playgrounds are designed to include both elevated and ground-level play components so children of all abilities can participate.

Accessibility isn’t an add-on — it’s built into the design.

03/06/2026

💚 Facebook Memory 💚

Six years ago today we shared the first post about improving Kerkhoven’s parks in phases.

At the time, it was simply a vision for the future — starting with Centennial Park and eventually moving on to Pillsbury Park.

A lot has happened since that day.
Ideas turned into plans.
Plans turned into projects.
And projects turned into places where families now gather and kids make memories.

Looking back at this post is a reminder that when a community believes in something and keeps working toward it together, amazing things can happen.

And we’re not done yet. 💚

Good Morning Kerkhoven! We wanted to share with you that we have decided to make improvements to our parks in phases.

Phase One is Centennial Park. Our goal is to have a fun, new playground in the ground in a year. We are currently working on finalizing the equipment, fundraising ideas, and a sponsorship packet.

Phase Two will be Pillsbury Park. When Centennial is done, this phase will begin. Our goal is to take all of the equipment out and put in brand new. We already have some ideas for this park.

We look forward to hearing the ideas and wishes of the community through this process.

03/04/2026

Trivia Tuesday Answer:

True.

Studies consistently show that well-maintained parks contribute to stronger property values, healthier residents, and more vibrant small towns. Parks aren’t just recreation spaces — they’re economic and community assets.