This wonderful playground was built by our community in 2006.  The playground is located in Veterans' Memorial  Park by our ball fields on North Street.   Alec Mertz was a special youngster who lost his battle with cancer.  Alec loved to play in our parks, so this was done in special honor of him and his family.  Alec was the son of Greg and Michelle Mertz.

The City of Walnut received a grant in the amount of $20,240.00 from the Iowa West Foundation on behalf of this $41,150.41 project.  The project was truly a collaborative effort from the beginning.  The Walnut Optimist Club donated the proceeds that were derived from the dinner theaters that were held during the past two years.  Other involved organizations included the Knights of Columbus, the Pottawattamie County Chapter of Thrivent Lutherans, Walnut Community School and the Pumpkin Fest Committee.  Grant funding was also provided by Iowa Network Services.  Local residents and interested individuals also donated generously to the project. 

The volunteer members of the Playground Committee spent hours of planning and fundraising for the project.  The members of the Pottawattamie Committee included Gaylean Bauerkemper, Mike and Heather Gettler, Steve and Judy Griffin, Jeff Nielsen, Pam Nielsen, and Bryan and Celine Simonsen.  Thanks so much for a job well done!