The Oliver park will be dedicated Saturday to Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Pionk during the village's annual picnic, said Kevin Cain, village board member and park committee head.
Pionk, who grew up in Oliver, served with the Third Cavalry, Second Squadron based out of Fort Lewis, Wash. He died in January while serving in Iraq. The village board voted to dedicate the park in honor of Pionk this spring.
Pionk grew up in Oliver and his father, Duane Pionk, served on the Oliver Village Board, Cain said.
"We just thought it would be a wonderful way to honor him," he said.
The village is in the midst of a park improvement fundraising effort that began in January 2007 after residents realized some of the park's playground equipment was becoming outdated and wanted to provide more opportunities for Oliver kids.
ADVERTISEMENT
The merry-go-round and wooden swings are getting old. The only other piece of equipment at the park was a slide, so at the time there wasn't much for kids to play with, Cain said.
Oliver has been growing in recent years and people realize that children need somewhere to play, Cain said. "The kids out here deserve it."
The park committee has raised $16,000 through donations and fundraisers. The goal is $40,000, Cain said.
With the money already raised, the committee has added two soccer nets, a half-basketball court, baby swing, grill and garbage cans to the park, he said.
The ultimate goal is to buy a full playground set for 5- to 12-year-old kids, Cain said.
A standard playground set costs $25,000.
The committee received a sizable donation from Matthew Pionk's widow, Melanie, Cain said. She wanted to donate to the project because the park is a place where she can take her children -- Dillon, Ashley and Brandon -- to remember their father, she said.
The Pionk family will be on hand for the dedication.
