Chelsea park project comes to fruition with strong community support
T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY Rob Fattig, who led fundraising efforts for a new community park in Chelsea, poses for a photo next to a sign thanking all of the donors who helped the project come to fruition in the span of about two years.
A view of the brand new park, which is located between the Chelsea Public Library and the Chelsea United Methodist Church on Station Street.
T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY Rob Fattig, who led fundraising efforts for a new community park in Chelsea, poses for a photo next to a sign thanking all of the donors who helped the project come to fruition in the span of about two years.
A view of the brand new park, which is located between the Chelsea Public Library and the Chelsea United Methodist Church on Station Street.
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CHELSEA -- When the T-R first spoke with Rob Fattig about two years ago, the South Tama County (STC) alum who had returned to his hometown of Chelsea and taken a job with the local bank was kickstarting efforts to raise funds for a true community park in the green space between the library and the Chelsea United Methodist Church on Station Street. Fast forward to the fall of 2026, and that dream has become a reality thanks to the financial generosity of local businesses, individuals and nonprofit organizations.
The original goal, Fattig explained, was to raise $40,000 in the first year toward a total project cost of $72,000, but they were able to raise the full amount and then some -- $76,000 in all -- in just one year. The park includes brand new equipment, a soft rubber mulch surface and a shelter area with benches, and the project received a total of 49 different sponsorships, including $10,000 grants from the Mansfield Foundation and the Tama County Community Foundation along with five personal and business contributions of at least $5,000. The proceeds of the annual Chelsea Car Show have also contributed to the park substantially.
The extra money, Fattig said, allowed for a larger shelter and a swingset to be installed.
"We were able to get a whole bunch of extra stuff," he said. "We raised a lot more money than we thought, so we were able to put it to good use. And we've got a few things left to do. We're gonna put a more permanent border around the edge... We're still kind of deciding what that's gonna be. And staining this wood (on the shelter) is in the plans too."
Before the project started, the lot was completely empty. A local farmer donated all of the dirt, and excavator/Tama County Supervisor Curt Kupka donated the trucking. The shelter was constructed by local carpenters Jerome Behounek, Corey and Nolan Upah and Jeremy Weiermann with materials from Hrabak Lumber, and JRF Concrete was hired to do the concrete work with Manatts donating 50 percent of the materials. The park equipment was sourced and installed by Rainbow of the Heartland from Grimes, and Alliant Energy installed a new flood security light.
Other major volunteers include Gary Fattig, Doug Stadler and Dan Poduska, and Van Wall donated tires.
Fattig, a father of two himself, has already been blown away by how many kids are utilizing the new park after school in a town of less than 250 people.
"I knew I was going to make (the project) work, but I didn't know I was gonna make it work that quickly and people were gonna embrace it that much," he said. "It's really nice to see that small towns can still thrive and still do something. Yes, we get flooded, but there's still things going on in Chelsea. So that's nice to see."
He even joked that at some points throughout the process, he had more offers to help than work to dish out, but it was a good problem to have nonetheless. The park will now offer an exciting recreational opportunity to generations of Chelsea residents and visitors for years to come.
Contact Robert Maharry at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.