Simplified: A $2.65 million donation from the Jacobson and Everist families will bring a second phase of improvements to downtown's newest park, including an overlook near the upper Falls.
Why it matters
- Donors Garry and Diane Jacobson, as well as Rob Everist teamed up to help the city fund Phase II of Jacobson Plaza. Those improvements will primarily focus on connective pathways, landscaping, infrastructure improvements and an upper falls overlook called "Everist Family Overlook."
- The first phase of Jacobson Plaza opened last year with a splash pad, ice ribbon, dog park and the largest playground in the city. Many of those features were also funded with the support of donors, including the Jacobson family and T. Denny Sanford.
- Construction on the pathways and overlook for Phase II are expected to start as soon as the weather warms up, and work should be completed by the fall, Park Development Specialist Mike Patton said, noting that the vast majority of this work is funded through the philanthropic gift.
"This city would not be where it is today if we didn't have generous people doing these types of projects and forward-thinking," Councilor Curt Soehl said ahead of a unanimous vote to advance the naming agreement to second reading.
