Park caps fundraiser with $100k stunner

By Robert Williams

Editor

Dave and Roxann Daggett, the 2025 Turkey Days Legacy Leaders and co-Grand Marshals, are being honored this year for their decades of support, service and contributions to Frazee.  ¶  In a July feature interview, Roxann explained how she has done everything from carrying fenders during cleanup after the Turkey Days demo derby to leading the town’s centennial celebration with big monthly events all of 1991.  

¶  Thursday evening, she was beaming and cheering a surprise sizable donation of $100,000 to the Wannigan Regional Park Alumni Challenge, during a gathering at the covered bridge to commence the original deadline of the fundraiser.  ¶  The donation was made by a member of the Class of 1958. The identity of the donor has not been made public.  ¶  “This is so exciting,” Roxann said.  ¶  In a June Forum feature, Roxann, a Wannigan Capital Investment Committee member, implored former Frazee graduates to become a part of the Park’s legacy by contributing to the Wannigan Park Class Challenge. The fundraiser surpassed $20,000 quickly and was at approximately $35,000 heading into Turkey Days.

Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) member Polly Andersen was all smiles after hearing of the windfall. Andersen was also very complementary of Daggett’s leadership during the fundraiser, which is at $135,000, as more donations come in until Sunday.

“She’s just challenging us and this alumni outreach is really huge because so many of our alumni want to feel in on things,” said Andersen.

The amount will increase greatly as there is up to $100,000 of matching funds available for the first $100,000 raised.

Andersen has also explained how important donations and any matching funds from residents and supporters helps acquiring future funding.

Solid community matching dollars are needed to show on applications for grants, she told the Frazee City Council on Wednesday, June 11.

Many others were involved in the fundraiser, including former Frazee-Vergas High School Principal Anna Potvin and each graduating class from 1948-2020 had at least one contact person involved.

In June, Daggett also noted how every donation to the park is important, not just for this fundraiser, but for the future evolution of the park.

“Any person that gives money to Wannigan Park, whether it’s $10 or whatever, they have an investment in something that is wonderful here,” she said.

Since April, the park has seen 24,000 visitors, according to FCDC board member Erik Anderson.

Coming improvements at the park include construction of a multi-use paved trail, stretching nearly two miles throughout Wannigan Park, currently under construction and scheduled to be completed this year. Scheduled for the coming year are the picnic shelter, fishing pad and kayak launch.

For more information, including a map of the Wannigan Regional Park master plan, visit www.wanniganpark.com/