For Aurora area resident Kelsey Mersch, growing up near Pioneer Trails Recreation Area was a privilege that came with an added sense of responsibility. Mersch’s youth was spent kayaking and fishing on the lake and picnicking and walking the trails on the park grounds. Through her teen years, she gave back when she could, cleaning up trash and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity or vandalism. She had a sense of pride and ownership about the facility. She wanted the park to be a great place to relax and enjoy nature, not only for her family, but for all who visited the picturesque site.
 
A longtime member of the Aurora Eager Achievers 4-H club, Mersch understood the importance of community building and using one’s gifts as opportunities to serve. Mersch loved the outdoors, loved building things, and especially enjoyed spending time at Pioneer Trails. Why not combine her interests and work to create a park improvement that would benefit her community using the skills and resources developed through 4-H?
 
Several years of planning and fundraising have come to fruition, as Mersch installed a new play structure for young children at Pioneer Trails in September. It was a long road to finish this project, she said. Getting all the requisite approvals from the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, which operates Pioneer Trails Recreation Area, to select the best site and equipment took more than a year. “We had to make sure everything met safety standards but wasn’t too expensive,” she explained.
 
Fundraising came next. Mersch raised the $1,400 necessary for the project through bake sales as well as personal labor—she assisted in renovating a home with flood damage and the money she earned was put toward purchasing the playground.
 
She couldn’t have done it without the support of 4-H. “Thanks to my 4-H club for helping me fundraise most of the money to be able to buy the equipment,” she said. Her experiences with 4-H were very meaningful, as she met new people, learned new skills, and had many opportunities to grow over her decade in the club. The playground equipment was her farewell project for 4-H, as she recently aged-out of the program, which serves youth ages 8 to 18.
 
Mersch’s father, Bill, was an important part of the playground project as well, as he assisted with assembly and installation of the equipment. The Upper Big Blue NRD completed the playground area by installing rubber mulch and a boarder around the area.
 
Today, Mersch is putting her 4-H skills to good use as an agribusiness major at Southeast Community College, where she is in her second year.
 
Building the playground was a good learning experience, she said. Through the long process from idea to execution, Mersch learned about project management and perseverance. “You have to stay committed and not lose motivation along the way if you want to make a difference,” she said.