Damar Community Center

Damar awarded $297,665 KAN STEP Grant for New Community Center

The City of Damar in western Rooks County in northwestern Kansas has been awarded a $297,665 Kansas Small Town Environmental Program (KAN STEP) Grant to construct a new community center. Damar will match the funding with $198,495 in volunteer labor for a total retail cost of $496,160.



The 2,800 square foot facility will include two community rooms.  One room is intended for smaller meetings and the other larger room will be for receptions, dances and larger meetings. The community center will also include a kitchen, restrooms and a storage/ mechanical room.

Project representatives at Damar are Tim Benoit and Brian Newell . Grant Administration will be provided by Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development. The architect is Don Marrs, DMA Architects, Salina. The Kansas Rural Water Association will provide inspection services and technical assistance.

More about Damar:
Damar is best known for the beautiful St. Joseph Church. The limestone stucture was built almost entirely by parishoners. The town and the church are on top of a hill that offers a view over many miles of Kansas countryside. Damar is on highway K-18 and is six miles off of US-24.

Damar was settled in the 1880s by French-Canadians. Even today, traces of that culture survive. The town was moved to its current location when the Union Pacific built tracks through the area.

The area offers great outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and camping. Nearby Lake Webster is just nine miles away. Many visitors to the area have admired at the cleanliness of the town. Damar also boasts a progressive school system and major shopping is just minutes away. With all of these features, Damar is truly a place where both young families and retirees alike would enjoy to live.