A major undertaking in the small town of Garvin will be a game-changer for kids there
The sound of a metal hammer clanking against the top of a stake rang through a peaceful Garvin morning last Wednesday.
A day later, concrete from Buffalo Ridge Concrete was being poured onto a large, gravel-filled area across from the town’s congregational church and smoothed out as three Hisken Construction workers waited with cement trowels at the ready as the selfpowered machine did its job.
The end result of all this work was a brandnew concrete surface that is just one piece of a two-park recreational project in the heart of Garvin.
Joni Livingston, who teaches Sunday School at the Garvin Congregational Church across the street from the new-look playground, said as she has gotten to know the kids in Garvin, she has also become well aware that there exists a lack of things for them to do around the quiet town.
A CREW FROM HISKEN CONSTRUCTION out of Marshall worked last week to smooth cement at the future home of a basketball/pickleball court at the park in Garvin. BELOW: THE PARK AREA took on a different look a couple of weeks ago, as the area was prepped for the new court, which will be adjacent to a sand volleyball court. Photos / Per Peterson
“I know that there’s not much to do in Garvin,” she said.
The process of the rejuvenation started in the spring of 2024 when those very kids were picking up branches and sticks in the church yard and at the city park across the street, something they typically do each year in preparation for mowing, according to Joni Livingston. The kids lamented that the park was no longer used because the basketball hoops were broken down, the asphalt was cracked and there hadn’t been a volleyball net in place for many years.
“I’m retired now, so I got to thinking maybe there’s some money available to fix this little park up — that’s how it started,” Livingston said. “We just want the kids to have some activities to do in Garvin, so they don’t get so bored and have something wholesome to do.”
When it comes to giving kids something to do, Garvin has Wednesday evenings covered with Jim Sehl and Wendy Krueger’s weekly softball games that have been going on for about two decades, but even the makeshift softball field lacks amenities that make it a real field. It’s the rest of the week that the town has come up short in providing outdoor activities. That is, until now.
Church members pondered if there was a way to restore the recreation facilities and restore the softball field, Livingston said, since it had become uneven and could pose a safety hazard.
Church members consulted with Garvin Mayor Jim Julien and started to research the potential for grants from local and regional organizations that might be able to help. After submitting applications, the church received a $30,000 from Taylor Family Farms Foundation grant, and matching funds from other local charitable foundations, including the Congregational Church.
“Our pastor, Chuck Anderson had heard about (Taylor Family Farms), and I just checked it out online, and they seem to provide grants for a variety of things in southern Minnesota,” Livingston said. “It looked like we would be in the right area to get a grant. I thought, ‘Why not try?’ We were very fortunate to get a grant from them.”
The recreation restoration project kicked off on July 23 of this year with the removal of the old asphalt and basketball equipment by Towne & Country Excavating, LLC. Towne & Country owner Jeff Towne grew up in Garvin and met with Livingston and others to go over a plan; the overall cost of the project is about $73,000, so parts of the project might need to be put on hold until more funds are raised.
The new recreation facilities will include two pickleball courts — one will double as a basketball court — a new sand volleyball court, a corn hole area and an equipment shed. The current area used for the softball games will also be leveled and reseeded (perhaps this fall); pockets for bases will be installed and the backstop will be replaced sometime in the future, although Livingston couldn’t say when that will take place.
“Restoring and enhancing these facilities will help keep children safe and provide wholesome, healthy ways for them to keep busy,” said Mayor Julien. “It will also provide recreational opportunities for the entire community to enjoy, promote healthy lifestyles and help bring the community together.”
The pickleball court could be ready for use yet this fall after Labor Day, and the sand is already there for the volleyball court.
The Wednesday softball game night ends right before the Labor Day holiday weekend and is followed by a picnic.
For more information, or to make a donation to the project, contact Livingston at 605-2613637.
