Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A group of supporters has re-formed to revitalize Tekoa’s Towne Square Park.
The small park was created in 1988, at the site of a former parking lot on Crosby Street between the Tekoa Pharmacy and the former grocery store, which is now used for storage.
The park was built as a way to honor state-level Tekoa High School student achievement, with a series of bronze leaves to note names and accomplishments.
The park, which was funded by private donations, was turned over to the City of Tekoa a year after its founding to lower insurance and maintenance costs.
This spring, after a decade of inactivity at the site, a group of original board members began to meet again.
Attending have been representatives of a “tri-board,” three groups originally involved in the park: the Towne Square committee, the city council and the Tekoa Parks and Recreation board.
Becky McHargue, the head of the Towne Square committee, said that advocates for the park backed away in recent years, due to factors such as the economy and not wanting to compete with other local causes such as the Empire Theater’s renovation.
“Now it’s time to dig in,” she said. “Maybe it’s a good time in our economy and our community to revitalize this park. I think there’s some enthusiasm to go for it.”
One of the tasks at hand is to find a new way to honor state achievers, since the original artist for the project, Ken Spiering, is no longer available. He created the first bronze leaf designs with names etched for both students and donors. He continued to create leaves for the park in subsequent years.
Spiering is the creator of the giant Radio Flyer wagon in downtown Spokane, and also the bronze leopards at the Spokane City bus terminal.
McHargue said that after Spiering was no longer available, the committee had the leaves made and those have discolored and deteriorated.
“It’s not what we want to continue with,” McHargue said.
Other than a new leaf designer or other manner to honor names, McHargue said landscaping improvements are also a goal.
The tri-board is set to meet again Aug. 11 to brainstorm landscaping ideas and also whether to add a new feature such as a water element or kids’ play structure.
In September, they hope to send out a request for proposals.
While no names have been added in recent years, the park has been maintained by the Tekoa Parks and Recreation Department. Also, each spring and fall, Tekoa Elementary teacher Kim Schulz takes her fourth-grade students there to clean up and plant flowers.
Becky Buergel of the Tekoa Pharmacy waters them over the summer.
McHargue said that while the Towne Square committee had been inactive, its tax exempt status is current and their bank account remains.
All told the “Tri-board for the Town Square,” as McHargue calls it, has met three times this year. She indicated that once their plans for the park are made, they will start raising funds.
“Call people and beg,” McHargue said with a laugh.
The tri-board includes Dave Tysz and Troy Wilson from the city council, Amie Eaton and Debbie Groom from Tekoa Parks and Debbie Dean, Schulz and McHargue from the Towne Square board.
She said the idea for the park came about to recognize all of the state-level accomplishments that may not garner a sign at the edge of town.
“We want this to be an ongoing recognition for students in our community,” said McHargue.
The park began with a donation by the Ernie Dippel Memorial Fund. Dippel was a farmer and longtime supporter of the high school.
McHargue was raised in Tekoa and retired in 2009 as principal of the grade school. She began as a teacher there in 1974.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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