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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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RAGBRAI hospitality leads to park donation
Thanks to a generous RAGBRAI donation, Mt. Pleasant is $5,100 closer to erecting an all-inclusive park
MT. PLEASANT — Thousands of RAGBRAI participants enjoyed their overnight stay in Mt. Pleasant last Friday, July 26 and they expressed this gratitude not only in words but also with a $5,100 donation.
RAGBRAI Director Matt Phippen presented the Mt. Pleasant RAGBRAI committee with a large check in the amount of $5,100 on the entertainment stage in Central Park Friday night.
These funds will go toward the development of Lee Town Park, an all-inclusive playground for children of all abilities to enjoy. The playground will be located on a city owned property on East Cedar Lane.
This donation comes in response to the hospitality put forward by Mt. Pleasant with the support of volunteers, vendors, local restaurants, churches, chops, and businesses. With their help, riders made themselves at home in Mt. Pleasant for the first time in 15 years throughout the town.
Riders and their support crews enjoyed music from Blake Jack and South 35 and the Spazmatics in Central Park, camping at Midwest Old Threshers Grounds, and a variety of goodies from various vendors and nonprofits throughout town.
“The biggest thank you to our volunteers for giving your time, decorating your yards, welcoming riders into your homes or even just taking an alternate route to work for the day,” the Mt.. Pleasant RAGBRAI Committee said. “We appreciate all of you! Thank you to Mt. Pleasant for embracing this event and knocking it out of the park!”
Riders like Phyllis Ruehlow from Osage agreed that the volunteers really made a difference in her stay in Mt. Pleasant.
“We loved camping at Old Threshers,” Ruehlow said. “It was so well run and organized. The volunteers were great, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the exhibits and riding the carousel. Very impressive place!”
Henry County resident and RAGBRAI participant Jesse Howard said he was grateful to all the volunteers that made RAGBRAI a success in Mt. Pleasant.
“As I entered into Henry County the first law enforcement officer I saw was Sheriff [Rich] McNamee, smiling and happy to welcome the nearly 20,000 riders into our beautiful county,” Howard said. “The hills and headwind were challenging but the greeting as we entered into Mt. Pleasant made it all worthwhile! Once again, Henry County went above and beyond and displayed why we love to call SE Iowa our home!”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
