The recent private purchase of the former School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Gary, SD, has brought about hope and promise for the once proud structure. For the past several years, many community members have had an avid interest in seeing the former school restored to its former state. With a planned celebration for the facility scheduled for July 4, 2009, local residents should start seeing rapid improvements to the campus and buildings.

The master plan for the former blind school campus is to create a new "campus" which may include lodging, office space, public recreational opportunities such as a park, campground, bike/hike/horse trails, and restoration of the former Lake Elsie. The new owner, Joe Kolbach of Dakota Wind, LLC, is committed to the Deuel County area and looks forward to a fully restored campus that will bring additional economic benefit to the region, and be a place that every member of the community can contribute to and enjoy.

A visioning session was held in December on the former blind school campus, the purpose of which was to hear feedback from local residents regarding additional uses for the property. The community meeting was an overwhelming success, with nearly 140 attendees from the Gary, Clear Lake, and Canby, MN areas. With clean-up and minor construction under way, the project is already impacting the community by providing work to local contractors and keeping local dollars local.

The restoration of the former School for the Blind and Visually Impaired marks a beginning to county wide efforts for community and economic development. The Rural Learning Center out of Howard, SD is currently under contract to assist with Deuel County's long-term development efforts. In addition, a newly formed organization, Deuel Area Development, Inc. has been formed to assist with the Blind School project and help facilitate community conversations about the future of Deuel County.

For more information about the renovation of the former School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Deuel County, or any of the organizations mentioned, contact Briana Hoffman, Rural Learning Center, at 605-881-2036, or by email .

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