Maple Hill Auto Group has pledged $100,000 to the “Make a Splash” fundraising campaign to construct a splash pad at Texas Drive Park. This fundraising effort is led through a partnership between Texas Township and the Friends of Texas Township Parks & Trails, a 501c3 organization dedicated to supporting parks & trails development.
The splash pad, which would be the first in the Portage/Schoolcraft/SW Kalamazoo area, is estimated to be 2,000 SqFt with 15-20 water & spray features. It is a key component of the Township’s future development plan for Texas Drive Park, which includes other amenities such as a bandshell, pickleball courts, picnic areas, basketball courts (to transform into winter ice rink), and more. The Township hopes that this amenity will create another destination and gathering spot for the community, benefiting many of the young families residing in the Township, and attracting visitors from surrounding communities.
As a continuation of Maple Hill’s goal to continually invigorate and grow the community in which we live and work, Maple Hill is thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Maple Hill Splash Pad. This addition to Texas Township will allow families and community members to gather in a safe and clean environment. “It’s important to continually give back to the people and community that has given us so much. It’s our customers, employees, and community members who make supporting projects like this possible,” says Jim VandenBerg, Owner/GM of Maple Hill Auto Group. Maple Hill Auto Group has been family owned and operated in Kalamazoo since 1995 and has supported many outdoor family events and projects such as the Maple Hill Trail, a mountain biking trail in Markin Glen County Park, and the Maple Hill Holiday Parade, resurrecting a Kalamazoo tradition of 59 years just this past November.
“We are very excited and grateful for Maple Hill Auto Group’s generosity and look forward to bringing this destination attraction to our community,” said Superintendent Julie VanderWiere. “Parks and park amenities like this one bring people together and build community. The splash pad will be another public gathering spot where many of the young families residing in the Township can connect.”
Texas Drive Park is centrally located in Texas Township, just outside of downtown Texas Corners, and easily accessible by I-94, 131, and the Township’s multipurpose trailway, which connects downtown Texas Corners to 12th Street & Milham Avenue.
Maple Hill Auto Group’s donation is equal to 25% of the fundraising goal of the Township, and sufficient to earn them naming rights for the splash pad. To date, the Township has received over $175,000 in fundraising. The Township is hopeful that through continued community support and investment, they will be able to start the design phase of the project in mid-2022 and begin construction in late 2022 or early 2023.
For more information about the project, please visit www.texastownship.org/splashpad.