The size of the Pella Sports Park pushed the boundaries for a town with a population just over 10,000, but supporters stepped up to make it possible. In August, a donor recognition wall designed by Pella Engraving Company was installed on the west wall of the complex’s concession stand and meeting room to honor organizations and individuals for their contributions.
Between the first ideas sketched on a piece of scratch paper and the first game played in April 2016 were a dozen years of hard work to earn support for the sports complex. “The wall is positioned at the pinnacle of the complex to honor the donors who made this possible in a humble and appropriate way,” said Craig Wassenar, a board member for Fields for Our Future, Inc., the non-profit that envisioned the new sports complex and worked with the City of Pella to bring it to life.
The look of the wall itself matches the feel of the complex. “We wanted something simple and high quality. We are blown away by the final product,” said Craig. “Everyone loves it.”
While the Fields for Our Future group initially thought they would need to install the plaques on an interior wall, the PEC team was able to present several material options that would be durable enough for an exterior installation that more people will be able to see.
PEC Co-Owners Jarid Purvis and Cory Vande Kieft (pictured) led the donor wall project and installed it at the Pella Sports Park.
The donor wall’s design features plasma-cut arched aluminum lettering with a drop shadow. Two sets of letters, one black and another silver, were needed to make this effect possible. Backdrop silver-edged aluminum plates with rounded corners sit behind four large, black zinc plaques. The final layer consists of weather-resistant Metalphoto® plates etched with donor names. Major contributors are showcased with color logo plaques printed on aluminum with PEC’s flatbed UV color printer, then sealed for excellent outdoor durability.
“The wall’s design allows us to continue to add donors as the park grows,” said Craig. “The PEC team was very proactive—they led us through the process and were easy to work with as we needed to add some last-minute donors. The final product matches our vision for the park as a whole and will stand the test of time.”
PEC Co-Owners Jarid Purvis and Cory Vande Kieft led the project and completed the installation. “We are so thankful to be located in a community like Pella that is growing and has people willing to make projects like the Pella Sports Park happen,” said Jarid. “Pella Engraving Company is proud to have our work be a small part of this family-centered complex.”
“Due to the many processes and materials the project required, most of the PEC team was able to contribute, which made this project even more rewarding,” added Cory.
You can read more about Pella Engraving’s donor wall options on their website.