A bit of vision, some grants, and a lot of community spirit add up to a place of pride for a small town
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Corn Patch Provides Multi-Use Open Space For Recreation -
Top: Corn Patch Park before the construction; Below: the completed Corn Patch Park. Photos courtesy of Barbara Nurnberg.
When Washita Heights High School closed in 2010 and the building was sold, a big hole was left not only in the social and activities life of Corn, but also in the physical appearance of the town itself. The school’s once-vibrant baseball field was left to disrepair.
Town mayor Barbara Nurnberg had other ideas, though. She wanted to create something attractive in the heart of the town, but something more than a typical city park. She wanted to build an attraction that would give residents a reason to stay in town and help strenghten the fabric of community that is the heart of small towns.
And so The Corn Patch was born.
“The community of Corn united to provide all ages with opportunities to have a safe and fun way to play, improve their health, build relationships, and strengthen the neighborhood and community by building a park,” Nurnberg said. “We fittingly named it The Corn Patch and it includes a splash pad, playground equipment, walking trail, tot lot, picnic area, water feature, outdoor exercise equipment and vending machines.”
Nurnberg sought out grant funds and donors to help finance the construction of the park. She obtained three grants, totaling $332,000, for to cover the costs of the splash pad and water towers, playground equipment, and the tot lot. Members of the community and private businesses joined in the effort and brought Nurnberg’s vision for Corn to life.
The Corn Patch includes a splash pad, playground equipment, a special tot lot for younger kids, and almost 1,800 feet of walking trails. What was once a vacant baseball field suffering from neglect has now become something the entire town can enjoy, something of which they can all be proud to have helped create.