Basketball Court Now a Part of Willow Park in Watson

More images are available on the Willow Park Facebook page, located here.

The committee of volunteers working to develop a park in Watson in memory of Willow Long have received a sizable contribution toward the effort.   

A Willow Park committee member spoke with local businessman Monte Bartels about the need for an outdoor basketball court as part of the development.  Bartels embraced the idea and went to work.  The result is that all of the concrete and labor has been donated for the basketball court and the court was built last Friday, November 8.

The people directly instrumental in making the basketball court project possible are Paul Heuerman with CCI Redi Mix, Gary Bartels with MBI Concrete Construction and Dennis Probst with Mid-Illinois Concrete.  Monte Bartels was on site Friday overseeing the project along with several experienced concrete crew members.

(THE BASKETBALL COURT NEARS COMPLETION)

Willow Park committee members wanted to thank the contractors and laborers since due to their efforts, the park has a much-needed basketball court for the youth of Watson.  The committee also thanked Newlin Martin and Martin's IGA+ for taking food to the construction site on Friday and providing a free meal for the workers.  Committee members said thanks are also due Chuck and Jim Bierman with Bierman's Welding for building and donating two basketball poles.

Willow Park is being developed just north of the Watson Civic Center.  A reminder that all donated funds for Willow Park go directly to the development of the park. Donations may be dropped off at Fifth/Third Bank in Effingham, or mailed to: Willow Park Fund, care of Fifth/Third Bank, 200 East Jefferson Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401.