Aug. 18. Lisa Mayhew with the Smithville Community Coalition presented the Lake Norman Kiwanis Club with a check for $3,000 toward the new $150,000 splash park being build in Smithville at last night’s Town Board meeting. The money was raised during the inaugural Cornelius Jazz Festival in July.

So far, Kiwanis has raised $110,000 in cash and pledges for the park, according to John Aneralla, a club member.

The splash park is a big thing for Cornelius and Smithville, where access to the lake is limited. The Lake Norman Kiwanis club, which meets each Thursday morning for breakfast at The Acropolis restaurant, undertook the project as a way to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis.

Aneralla, a Huntersville financial advisor, is chairing the fundraising drive. He hopes the project willl be completed in September.

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. has just pledged $25,000, putting the Kiwanis just $40,000 away from the goal. The Town of Cornelius originally fronted the cash for a splash park in the historically black community with the understanding that Kiwanis would raise the funds.

The splash park is expected to be named Kiwanis Splashville Park.