Recovery
Rebuilding Rushford
Two years after floodwaters swept through Rushford Minn., displacing two-thirds of the town’s residents, the joyful sounds of children playing have returned to a waterfront park.
Youngsters enjoy a park that co-op volunteers helped to rebuild in Rushford, Minn. (Photo By: Tri-County Record)
On Aug. 19, 2007, Creekside Park, a popular playground, was washed away when the Root River overflowed its banks.
Half the staff of Tri-County Electric Co-op, Rushford, joined consumer-members over a five-day period recently to bring it back to life.Volunteers hammered nails, tightened bolts and rebuilt playground equipment.
“A project like this for a small community really shows the power of what can be accomplished by working together,” said Brian Krambeer, the co-op’s CEO.
Twenty-six co-op staffers served meals to volunteers, drilled post holes, sanded and stained wood, and spread mulch. Co-op staffers logged 262 community service hours for the week and helped get the park ready for a summer of fun.
“The youngest kids playing in the park now aren’t even old enough to remember the flood,” said Brenda Tesch, the co-op’s director of public relations. “It’s just a great place to play again.”