OAKES, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The community of Oakes, ND, is holding a unique fundraiser to support their local Chamber of Commerce to purchase the only green space along their Main Street.

The dream is to develop the park into a community gathering space with outdoor seating, a paver patio, and a rich display of beddings and plantings to create an inspiring and art-infused environment where people of all ages can connect and create shared memories. The plan also includes a covered pavilion to allow for fun outdoor events, including live music and other shows.

To kick off their fundraising efforts, the Chamber of Commerce partnered with Growing Small Towns and the Oakes Active Arts Club to create an opportunity for local residents to create custom pieces of art. Kustom Machine in Oakes laser cut oak leaves from raw steel. Local businesses and individuals sponsored the purchase of the leaves and then worked with individuals to create the finished pieces. There are 26 completed designs with art mediums ranging from acrylic and oil paints to epoxy, fiber arts, and woodworking.

The leaves turned out to be incredible pieces of art!

The auction to bid on the leaves is available online now and bidding will close at 12 pm on Friday, June 23. The auction also provides an opportunity to make a cash donation if you love the idea of a park that’s both designed and maintained by the community. You can view the artwork and support the project here: https://app.galabid.com/oakleavesfundraiser

The goal is to raise enough funds to purchase the park and pursue grant funding to develop the idea fully. The community of Oakes is full of talent and passion, and this project has brought the best out of us all!