×

Running a ‘Meter-THON’

Honor Credit Union to host event raising money for new Kids Cove Playground

From left are Bill Digneit, Stephanie Jones, Honor Credit Union Community Assistant Vice President Jamie Gollakner and Kate Havel. Honor announced Thursday that it will host a Full Meter-THON in September to raise money for a new all-inclusive playground at the Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette. The festival-like event will take place Sept. 25 and feature a one-meter running race, food vendors, live music and more. (Journal photo by Ryan Spitza)

MARQUETTE — Efforts are ongoing to raise money for a new all-inclusive Kids Cove playground at Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park.

A resolution accepting a $300,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant was approved by the Marquette City Commission in June. In order to build the new playground, the grant requires a matching amount, which the Marquette Playgrounds for All Committee has committed to raising.

They’re about to get some help in reaching that matching goal, thanks in part to Honor Credit Union, which on Thursday announced that it will host a running event in September to raise money for the project.

The run won’t be for the faint of heart. It’s a grueling, agonizing, excruciating one meter long.

Yes, you read that correctly — it’s a one-meter, or 3.28-foot, race.

For the brave souls who feel they can rise to the occasion, the “Full Meter-THON” is set for Sept. 25 at the Lower Harbor. Honor is partnering with community leaders Stephanie Jones (Select Realty), Bill Digneit (Northern Michigan University, DIGS, Double Trouble DJs), Kate Havel (NMU, Upper Peninsula She Builders, Do it Yourself MQT) and Rick Rhoades (WLUC-TV6) to put on the event.

“What we are doing on Sept. 25 down here at Kids Cove is our Honor Credit Union first annual Full Meter-THON,” said Jones at a media event held Thursday. “There will be a course that will be raised, it will be accessible for all, and we’re going to be raising money for a new Kids Cove. All of the money we raise will go through the Marquette Community Foundation. The Meter-THON will be coupled with a full daylong festival of our complete and total Lower Harbor. We’re going to have bounce houses for kids, we’re going to have booths for people who are sponsors to share their message, music, beer, food, all of the things Marquette loves, and all of it will be benefiting a true Kids Cove.

“This is our first-ever Full Meter-THON, a ‘thon’ for all abilities to benefit a community for all abilities.”

Honor will serve as the title sponsor of the event while Invent@NMU will serve as the technology sponsor. Jones said more sponsorship opportunities are available for the event as well.

“We have more sponsorships available and if you would like to (join) us in what we think is going to be a fantastic event, you can reach out to any of us to sign up for sponsorships or get more information.”

Organizers hope hundreds turn out to take on the challenge.

“We anticipate hundreds of people participating with us in our Meter-THON,” Jones said. “We’ll be going across the start/finish line all day long and you can do it (individually) or you can do it in teams. We encourage teams to dress up. I have visions of the whole T-Rex blowup suits crossing the Meter-THON. I know the (Dead River Derby) girls will be crossing, and there’s other groups that we’ll be hitting up to join us in this fundraising event.”

Jones said they hope to raise $50,000 through the fun-filled event so the Lower Harbor has a fun-filled future for all.

“When Bill (Digneit) and I first sat down and talked, he said let’s try and raise $50,000,” she said. “And with the Marquette community the way it is, and the generous sponsors that we already have lined up, we think we probably can (do that), but it’ll take more people in the community helping us.”

Jamie Gollakner, community assistant vice president for Honor, said he’s excited that Honor has an opportunity to help bring a playground for all to the community.

“Honor Credit Union is excited to be a part of this,” he said. “Not only because it supports the community, but because it supports the kids. You can hear in the background how many kids (the current playground) impacts now, and I can’t imagine how many more in Marquette County that it’s going to impact. I have an 18-year-old daughter who I brought here often, and I know a lot of tourists that bring their kids here often. An updated playground that can include a lot more kids, it’s going to be great.”

The new playground will replace the original wooden structure that was constructed in 1996. Officials previously said the structure is worn and outdated, with the treated lumber used to build it now banned by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as of 2004.

The new structure will be all-inclusive, based on Universal Design standards with accessibility, safety and fun for all being top priorities.

The base cost of the project is set at $600,000. Sanders & Czapski Associates of Marquette was previously awarded the design bid for the project, with an estimated completion in spring or summer of 2022.

Community input sessions were held at Lakeview Arena in May, giving residents and anyone else interested a chance to vote on their favorite inclusive designs. The city of Marquette has received guidance from Let Kids Play, a Pittsburgh-based firm that “works with manufacturers, communities, nonprofits, landscape architects, park and recreation departments and parents on projects and strategies that ensure that all children have the best opportunities possible,” according to its website.

According to Meter-THON organizers, Marquette County is home to over 1,600 special needs children.

“Because of outdated designs, unsafe conditions and ground coverings not conducive with wheelchairs/walkers, current playgrounds in the area prohibit these children from participating in everyday play, an activity crucial to early childhood development,” a news release states.

Organizers are hoping Kids Cove 2 changes that.

“It will be a playground covering the widest spectrum of users and will meet the concepts of Universal Design,” the release continued. “This playground will be built so it is simple to use, understandable and safe for all users.”

All proceeds from the Meter-THON will go directly toward the cost of building the new playground in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Marquette County.

The cost to run the race is $25 and includes a T-shirt, otherwise, the festival-like event is free for the entire community.

Want to participate in the race but don’t feel like running the distance? You can finish the race any way you’d like.

“You don’t have to run, you can walk,” Jones said. “You can roll, do whatever you want, you can walk backwards, pogo stick, unicycle, it’s a ‘thon’ for all,” Digneit added.

More details will be announced at a later date and can be found on the Honor Credit Union Full Meter-THON Facebook page.

For more information on the project as a whole or to donate, visit the Marquette Playgrounds for All Committee website at www.kidscovemqt.com.

Donations can also be sent via mail to P.O. Box 37 or to the Community Foundation of Marquette County at 228 W. Washington St., Marquette, MI 49855.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today