Walnut, the Antique City, is planning to preserve part of the past by converting the former school building located at 415 Antique City Dr. into a new community center. Mayor Gene Larson says they had some options on what to do with the 77-thousand square-foot building once it no longer served as a school. The consensus was to make it useful. After an Ad Hoc Committee was formed, they made a deal with the School Board in Avoca  to have them spend some money on the building before the City would accept it.

With the addition to the old school building having been removed, a new HVAC system is being installed in the middle part of the school. Larsen says that part of the project is nearly complete. The idea is those newly air conditioned areas could be used for many purposes.The High School will also, eventually be air conditioned and improvements made, with the hopes of offering the space to businesses looking toward locating in Walnut. To assist with fundraising efforts and sustain the community center well into the future, the City of Walnut recently established an endowment fund with the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF).

Funds from the endowment, named the Walnut Community Center Fund, will be used to preserve, renovate, improve and operate the new Walnut Community Center. All donations will be met with a 10-percent contribution from PCCF . Donating is easy:

1. Visit www.ourpccf.org
2. Select “Donate to a Charitable Fund”

3. Print and complete the Walnut Community Center Fund donation form

4. Mail the form along with payment to the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation

Officials say Walnut has the opportunity to show its children that even when a door closes, another one opens.