Crews are gearing up to break ground on a new pavilion that will provide shelter to park-goers at Amend Park.

The park, on King Avenue East, is 60 acres of mainly soccer and rugby fields, with few trees or shelter.

The $75,000 pavilion project was approved in April, with fundraising efforts starting in late spring.

Melissa Soriya-Pearson, president of the Amend Park Development Council, said the council has to raise about $17,000 before a Nov. 30 deadline.

As a final push, the council is hosting a new fundraiser that involves the park’s most frequent users: soccer players and their families.

“Because of the economy, we haven’t had any big donors step forward,” said Soriya-Pearson, who is also president of the Yellowstone Soccer Association. “One of my main missions is to make people more aware that any improvement of the park is a direct result of the community.”

Soriya-Pearson said there are 2,500 soccer players between the YSA and Magic City Soccer Club.

Interested families who donate $100 can have their child’s name included on a plaque that will be put on one of the pavilion’s walls.

The size of the plaque will depend on the number of donations.

People with multiple children who don’t want to donate more than $100 can simply have the family name put on the plaque.

The planned pavilion is 54 feet in diameter. The security fencing for the project was put in place Tuesday.

Soriya-Pearson said the crews are hoping to start erecting the steel structure by mid-October. From there, the electrical systems will be installed.

Contact Chelsea Krotzer at ckrotzer@billingsgazette.com or 657-1392.