New playground equipment for the Fairfax City Park is being planned by Fairfax Improvement Foundation, with completion expected by mid-summer.

Fairfax Improvement Foundation (FIF) is excited to announce new playground equipment is coming to Fairfax City Park. The new high quality safer playground equipment is being funded by Enel Green Power North America, Inc. Enel Green Power constructed and now owns and operates the Rock Creek Wind Farms located north and east of Fairfax.
FIF adopted this project of new playground equipment for ages 5-12 which has been designed by and ordered from National Playground Equipment Company. Todd Fogg, Fairfax, a general contractor, and Ernest Knight, VP of Sales and Marketing of that company, have assisted in the process for the adoption of the plan. Additional toddlers’ equipment may be added when possible.
Community support is now needed for the cement base and ground covering to complete the project. A campaign to raise those funds is under way. Donations are needed to make this project a reality. To donate to this project, donations need to be made payable to FIF’s 501(c)3, Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri, with designation for “Fairfax Park Project” and mailed to Bob Alldredge, project chairman, P.O. Box 45, Fairfax, MO 64446. Bob is available to answer questions, 660-686-0206 or 660-253-0034. All donations of any size will be appreciated. Donors making a contribution of at least $2,500 will be listed on a sign in the park. Other donations will be listed in news articles unless the donor prefers to remain anonymous. Donation amounts will not be posted in the paper.
The City of Fairfax, with employees John Brown and Steve Stevens, has been a major player in removing old equipment and readying the way for excavating in order for Schueth Concrete, Mound City, to prepare the grounds and fulfill concrete duties. KCP&L crews have removed old utility poles and will construct new ones later. Tree removal and trimming will be done by M & L Tree Services, Tarkio. During the final construction of the playground project, Enel Green Power employees will be on hand to assist with many duties and help assemble the new playground equipment.
“We are thrilled to support this project in Fairfax and deliver a state-of-the-art playground for families from the entire community,” said Corey Martin, Operations and Maintenance Supervisor of Enel Green Power’s Rock Creek Wind Farm. “We want to thank the people of Atchison County for welcoming us and the wind farm and we are glad to be able to give back through this new playground.”
Fairfax Improvement Foundation was formed in 2016 to make improvements to Fairfax to help insure a healthier future for the Fairfax community in the ways of economics, promoting business, sustaining the environment, fulfilling safety measures, promoting growth and livelihood, appreciation of community members and happenings, and working for an overall better place to live and grow. A group held a community awareness meeting to introduce the opportunity to the community with an emphasis on preparing for the future.
They asked for suggestions and input at that time. The group connected with Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri, located in St. Joseph, to become a 501(c)3 organization so they could form a foundation under their umbrella and donations made to FIF’s projects could be tax deductible.
The FIF Board and committee consists of Jill Kingery, Crystal Woodring, Mandy Smith, Aimee’ Seymour, Danny Kemerling, Bob and Marilyn Alldredge, Bob and Krys Carlock, Jack and Ginny Vernon, Ryan Kingery, and Michael Oswald. Community members are invited and encouraged to participate.
The past projects of FIF have included: Clean-Up Fairfax; a sign honoring John Gilbert, Paralympic gold medalist from Fairfax; ribbon cuttings for new businesses in Fairfax; and promotions for local healthcare. They have other ideas in mind as well to benefit the Fairfax community.
Our children, along with other communities and many travelers, deserve a healthy atmosphere where they can exert energy, enjoy one another, and absorb safe exercise opportunities in Fairfax. Please make every consideration of allowing this improvement to the Fairfax City Park.