Campus will soon have one more thing to respect – a revised and expanded Kojie Park.

Ko Jo Kai plans to hold the official dedication ceremony during Homecoming breakfast once construction is complete on Nov. 1.

The park will offer members and alumni a dedicated gathering spot for events, club traditions and social time. The new addition replaces the club’s previous smaller gathering area and is located near south of the Campus Center.

Makeda Marquardt, president of Ko Jo Kai, said the project began with a desire for more room and a more intentional location for group gatherings.

“We were always at a point where we were ready for something a little more, and we wanted to see if there was another place on campus where we could put a park that felt more involved,” said Marquardt, senior accounting major from Abilene.

She said that the new space will give members a dedicated area instead of spreading out on the lawn in front of Moody.

“Now we will have our own section where we can gather,” Marquardt said. “It will be really great to have a central place on campus where we can all come together, and no one is cramped and everyone has space to spread out.”

The park will include symbolic details connected to the club’s identity. Small golden squirrels will be placed throughout the park in honor of the club’s mascot, Daisy, and the club motto will be displayed in the octagon area. The original park crest will also be transferred to the new site to maintain continuity with past generations.

“All of the little details in the park are meaningful to our club,” Marquardt said.

The park will also feature updated seating. Hanging benches will replace the previous stationary swings, and additional seating will be added to accommodate larger groups.

Faculty sponsor M.C. Jennings, said the project began with alumni who wanted to support the club in a meaningful way. Jennings pledged to Ko Jo Kai in 1988 and became a sponsor in 2006.

“Ko Jo Kai really gave me the ability to connect on campus,” Jennings said. “It felt like I had found my own community.”

She said alumni reached out after Homecoming a few years ago with the idea of a larger project.

“It has actually been a couple of years in the works,” Jennings said.

“The park committee has done a tremendous job of raising funds and reaching out to people,” Jennings said. “They have done a lot of work to get it to where it is now, and those women deserve all the credit for that.”