Work begins on Tonganoxie’s Gallagher Park
The new Gallagher Park just south of Tonganoxie Water Park is starting to take shape.
Footings have been poured for a circular area that will have brick pavers and a water fountain.
Gallagher Park will add a viable park at the start of Chieftain Trail.
“We don’t want to imitate or duplicate but want to add, in a very consistent manner, another good park,” said Kay Soetaert, a member of the park’s task force. “Our idea was to kind of make it a place for people walking and using the trails to be a kind of meeting place for people to relax and hang out.”
Park plans began in 2012 when Harry Gallagher Jr., son of Margaret and Harry Gallagher Sr., donated the land at 301 S. Main Street to the city. For many years, Margaret and Harry Gallagher raised their children in a small home on the property. Upon Margaret’s death, her children gifted the land to the city to build a public park. To honor the family, the Tonganoxie City Council named the property Gallagher Park on Sept. 2, 2014.
The council approved, 5-0, at the Sept. 29 meeting to earmark $10,000 for the park’s first phase. The park’s task force has raised about $6,300 so far for the park, including grant money through the Pete and Margaret Leighty Fund. The $10,000 will be paid out of the city’s 2015 capital projects fund budget.
Phase I will have a circular stone bench plaza that will also have a vintage drinking fountain in the middle of it.
The second phase would include an informational kiosk with literature about Tonganoxie’s history and other helpful tidbits, along with a playground.
Committee members looked at a third phase having a shelter house, but Soetaert said that future space still was up for debate.
The first phase is expected to have 115 bricks that people can purchase for naming at $100 each.
“That will be seed money for phase II,” Soetaert said.
She said organizers hope the first phase will be completed before winter weather sets in.
The park’s task force soon will start its brick paver drive in the coming weeks.
For more information about how to purchase a brick, look in future print editions of The Mirror and at tonganoxiemirror.com.