Thanks to large pledge, Peru moving forward with splash pad

The continued success of Peru’s J.A. Happ in major league baseball is allowing him to give back to his home in a big way.

Happ and his wife Morgan who is also from the Illinois Valley have pledged $100,000 towards building a splash plad and playground on the site of the old Washington School property. The idea being that the play areas will be built to accommodate special needs children of all ages.

Peru Mayor Scott Harl choked up when announcing the pledge, calling it a great night for the city. Harl says the development will be on the fast track with hopes of a ribbon-cutting in the next two years. The Happ pledge won’t cover the entire cost but the group “Friends for Peru Pool” has raised another $100,000 and the city is still due a $256,000 federal grant that the state has yet to release.

Harl says the city will also be aggressive in seeking more pledged money to the splash pad development. As the Happ pledge was being announced, the city’s attorney Doug Schweickert pledged $10,000 towards the project from his law firm.