Aug. 13. The Lake Norman Kiwanis Club has $110,000 in cash and pledges toward the new $150,000 splash park under way in Smithville. 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 Smithville Jazz Festival in mid-July generated $2,500 toward the cost of the splash park which is expected to be named Kiwanis Splashville Park.

This year is the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis, an international service organization that focuses on children. To commemorate this milestone, the LKN Kiwanis Club partnered with the Town on the splash park. Huntersville financial advisor John Aneralla, a candidate for mayor of Huntersville, is chairing the fundraising drive. He hopes the project willl be completed in September. Playworld is the general contractor.