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| ELIA MILLER / Scroll |
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| A sign at the edge of Porter Park displays a thermometer measuring how much money has been raised so far for two new water slides. |
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It is fall once again, and while Rexburg residents bundle up in response to familiar cold weather, a group of BYU-Idaho students hopes to raise Rexburg’s temperature in more ways than one.
As part of a senior-level public relations class, BYU-I students working in separate teams are focusing on next summer, making it a priority to help the city of Rexburg raise $200,000 to construct two new water slides.
Assuming funds are raised, the water slides will be built alongside the forthcoming free splash park facility to be located at Porter Park.
“We have four campaign groups working on this project competitively, which spices things up a bit,” said Mike Cannon, BYU-I Communication professor.
“Our Public Relations capstone course, Communication 435, helps students pull all of their previous training and experience together to produce a professional PR campaign for an actual client, in this case the city of Rexburg,” Cannon said.
In order to accomplish specific goals, each group is working closely with Rexburg Mayor Shawn Larsen and other city officials.
“I am pleased to work with professor Cannon’s Communication class to provide real-life opportunities for these young people to put into practice the skills they are learning in a classroom setting,” Larsen said. “Not only do the students benefit, but also our community benefits from their efforts to educate the public about the spray park and encourage them to contribute to a worthwhile cause.”
The splash park will be built and ready for use during the 2006 summer season, whether funds for the slides are raised or not, Larsen said.
The city already has set aside $200,000 for the splash park, which will have water features for the entire family and will be free to the public.
One BYU-I team referred to as Vertical Communication recently constructed and posted a money-gauging thermometer in Porter Park to measure the amount of money raised for the slides so far and to display the amount of money they and other groups will raise in the future.
“The thermometer is a fun concept that not only tracks fund-raising progress for the project, but it also generates community awareness and interest,” Cannon said.
So far, as indicated by the thermometer, an estimated $21,000 has been raised, $10,000 of which has been donated by the Rexburg Standard Journal. The Citizens for Rexburg Community Center Committee has given $7,000.
“I am very pleased with the thermometer the Vertical Communication Group put together,” Larsen said.
“They came up with an idea and then took the initiative to build a giving thermometer that is a visual reminder of the spray park and slide project and will generate additional contributions to the project,” he said. “This project will be a wonderful asset for families and children in this community. I am excited to take my children there next summer.”
Donations can be sent to 12 North Center Street, Rexburg, ID 83440.
