Fund-raising for a plaza to commemorate the city’s 150th birthday is more than halfway complete.

Friends of Sesquicentennial Point reported last week that they’d raised nearly $175,000 toward the $300,000 project, which would be on city-leased land near Clinton Lake. That comes as they’re beginning to ramp up the public portion of the fund-raising campaign.

“We’re doing very well, considering a lot of people don’t know where it is and what it will be,” said Chuck Warner, the US Bank president chairing the drive. “To raise as much as we have, that’s very positive.”

Plans call for a terraced area with three circles representing three 50-year segments of Lawrence history. The point also includes a time capsule buried as part of the celebration of the city’s 150th birthday, which was Sept. 18, 2004.

Long-term city plans call for an amphitheater at the site.

The plaza also will include stones, purchased by individuals, businesses and organizations, representing various years of importance in the city’s history. The cost of each stone is based on the year — for instance, 1870 would cost $1,870. Fifty stones have been sold so far.

One of those stones was sold to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. It purchased 1859, the year the church was founded.

“We wanted to participate in the celebration,” said Scott Wagner, the member who spearheaded the purchase. “It’s just a beautiful, lasting legacy to Lawrence. And I think it was a way to give back to the community a little bit.”

The group also received a large gift — $25,000 — last week from Capitol Federal Foundation. The bank purchased the 1953 stone, commemorating the year the bank opened its first branch in Lawrence.

This rendering shows the plan for Sesquicentennial Point near Clinton Lake. Plans call for a terraced area with three circles representing three 50-year segments of Lawrence history.

Clenece Hills, president of the Sesquicentennial Commission, said fund-raising efforts would become more public in upcoming weeks, with newspaper advertisements scheduled. Sesquicentennial representatives also will be on hand from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday through June 26 at the site to give tours and answer questions.

The group also is sending out 150 letters soliciting donations.

The goal, Hills said, is to raise the remaining money by the city’s 151st birthday on Sept. 18. She said the plaza could be completed by September 2006.

“I think it’s amazing we’ve managed to raise this money in such a quiet, subtle way,” Hills said.

6News video: Sesquicentennial Commission halfway to fundraising goal City’s focus turns from past to future (09-20-04) History, future intersect at Sesquicentennial Point (07-26-04) Sesquicentennial Point information (.pdf) More stories about the sesquicentennial