Koko Platz Rebuilding Committee focused on fundraising

The Koko Platz Rebuilding Committee is hoping to raise money so the construction can commence.

Board members Kaitlyn Coates and Adrienne Matthews-McCulley attended the Portage Rotary Club’s meeting on October 25th. Matthews-McCulley says, while the building being destroyed was a disaster, it allows them to ensure the new building is up to current standards.

“There was a lot of wear and tear on the building,” explains Matthews-McCulley. “It was 50-plus years old and it was gifted to us as an old Private Military Quarters (PMQ). If people were having elderly grandparents or people with limited mobility needing to use the space, there were limitations there.”

She adds that the number of bathrooms was also limited, so the new building will be more inclusive for everyone. Matthews-McCulley mentions inclusiveness in another sense, too, as they want everyone to know that the community centre will be open to everyone, not just Koko Platz residents.

“It’s the last community club, while it's actually not standing right now, it will be standing in our community,” says Matthews-McCulley. “We certainly want to have that nostalgic feel of the community club and we want nothing more than for the entire community to enjoy it.”

Coates says they also wanted to focus on the building and area being fully available all year round. She mentions they’ll be making sure they have a four-season rink, with more options than simply skating. 

“Through spring and summer, we want to have different recreational opportunities that are going to appeal to a lot of different people,” notes Coates. “We're also working to make the indoor rental space a lot more flexible.”

They hope that the new building’s increased capacity will help promote its use of it as well.

They expect to announce fundraising efforts that will be underway in the next couple of weeks. To stay up-to-date with their efforts, check out their Facebook page.