The pavilion has been six years in the making
MARQUETTE -- A new building was dedicated in Marquette Tuesday night, valued at more than half a million dollars.
The brand new Kaufman Pavilion in north Marquette is a palace in the Kaufman Sports Complex, and it took the financial assistance of more than 70 area businesses and organizations to become a reality.
"In so many ways, people work throughout this community to make it a special place, and this is just one more example of that happening, and it's the reason we're going to continue to be an outstanding community," says City Commissioner Don Ryan.
"It's taken us almost six years from start to finish, and thanks to a nice grant from the Kaufman Foundation--a challenge grant--we were able to raise over $500,000 to build this beautiful facility," says Bob Anderson of Superiorland Soccer, the organization behind the pavilion building efforts.
The Kaufman Foundation provided about half the funding for the pavilion.
"The basis of our foundation is to support and benefit the children of the Marquette area, and certainly this is a project that does that," says Peter Kaufman.
The park has already got baseball and soccer fields, a BMX track and plenty of parking. Now it's got a structure, a home base. More than 60 people were on hand for the pavilion dedication, among them, a soccer team that's thankful for the new facility.
"Well it's kind of nice to have better bathrooms and not the Porta-Potties. And it's kind of nice on a day like this when it's raining to come under something," says soccer player, Rebecca McNamee.
Superiorland Soccer still needs about $40,000 to finish paying for the pavilion. If you want more information on how to donate, you can visit them online at www.superiorlandsoccer.com. They're selling personalized bricks that are scattered around the structure, so you'll be recognized for your efforts.
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