Triangle Park renovation poject
By Emily Conroy
The Triangle Park Renovation Project is making progress as fundraising continues and money is starting to come in.
Mary Mann, who has been working with her husband John, Deb Sarna, Patty Hirte and Karen Hoffmann to raise money for the new sign, noticed last summer that a lot of the logo boards were outdated and some of the organizations no longer exist.
Mary said the sign was originally erected by the Women’s Club of Manawa, with the process starting in 1984. They raised funds over the following two years and the sign was finished in 1986.
Sarna said this project came to fruition in August 2023 when they realized Manawa’s sesquicentennial was coming the following year in 2024.
The goal is to have the sign finished by the first weekend in August ahead of the 150th anniversary weekend and to have the unveiling during the weekend celebration, Mary said.
Currently, the sign holds 18 logos, and in using the same frame the new sign will be expanded out to 32. Local organizations and churches have spoken for 24 of the logo spaces. No businesses will be displayed on the sign, Mary said.
“We really want to enhance the Triangle as a focal point in our community, yes the sign is there, but it was in such disrepair that, depending which way you were driving and looking at that sign, it really did not look great,” Mary said.
The biggest update to Triangle Park will be the digital sign which will announce events and activities around the community, Mary said.
The bandstand and the Frederick Remington Bronc Buster replica statue will remain at the park, however the Melvin O. Handrich Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial will be moved to the Manawa Veteran’s Park.
John Mann said the funds will not be coming from the city or from taxpayers, the renovation will be funded by donations from the community.
This is a one-time fundraiser, it will not be an ongoing thing, Mary said.
Sarna said that if there are enough funds left over after the sign is renovated they would like to have some additional enhancements, like a bench swing.
“What is nice about this, it is in the community if you choose to you are partaking in making your community better and more appealing to the eye.
You can represent that with respect and dignity,” Sarna said.
The donation can qualify for a tax deduction under the 501(c)(3) internal revenue code, as the project is being held by the Manawa Revitalization Committee LLC, Hoffmann said.
Donations can be sent to Manawa Revitiliazation Committee Inc., P.O. Box 130, Manawa Wisconsin, 54949. Their Facebook page, Triangle Park Renovation Project: Manawa, Wisconsin also has a QR code that visitors can scan that will bring them to the project’s Venmo page.