Nonprofits are keeping summer cool

Nonprofits are bringing summer fun to the whole region. The places, events, and programs that make the season what it is would not be possible without the contributions of the nonprofit sector.

In Aledo, the Looser-Flake Foundation has committed $250,000 over the next five years to the Aledo Park District to support the construction of the Aledo Aquatics Center. Mercer County Family YMCA will manage and staff the new facility.

Administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation and dedicated to supporting charitable causes in Mercer County, the Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation was established in 2013 by the estates of Dorothy Looser-Flake and Roberta Looser, sisters who were born and raised on a family farm near New Boston, Illinois. They cared deeply about the community that gave them so much growing up. So much so that they left a portion of their estates to establish the foundation.

“The Looser-Flake Foundation has contributed funding for a project that’s going to bring joy to countless people for years to come,” said Kelly Thompson, vice president of grantmaking and community initiatives at the Community Foundation. “It’s a great example of how nonprofits can partner with city governments to support the amenities that make our region a great place to live and work.”

The Aledo Aquatics Center will be an accessible and affordable community resource centrally located in Aledo at the old Farmer’s Grain and Coal property. The Center includes a bathhouse, zero-depth pool, diving board, splash pad with mini slides, and more in addition to the 40,000 square foot pool.

“The Aquatics Center will be for everyone,” said Mike Chausse, city administrator and former alderman. “Our public pool was a WPA project built in 1939, and it’s time to provide a new recreation option for the community. We’ve designed the facility with the input of the community, and we can’t wait to bring this new opportunity to Aledo.”  

In addition to funding from the Looser-Flake Foundation, the project is supported by state funding, community fundraising, and private contributions. “The Looser-Flake contribution is significant because it will continue across a five-year period,” said Chausse. “It signals to the community that our partners are in this for the long haul, and we can build this project sustainably.”

The Aquatics Center will rise up alongside the Aledo Opera House, The Depot, and Central Park, which will also undergo improvements in the near future. Chausse said that these amenities—together with new area housing options—have helped to draw families back to the region. Together with governments and generous donors, nonprofits are helping to make Aledo a wonderful place to live, work, and visit as a destination.

Construction on the Aquatics Center is expected to begin in the spring of 2025. To learn more about the Looser-Flake Foundation and the projects that make Mercer County great for everyone, visit https://www.qccommunityfoundation.org/looserflakefoundation.