Blanchardville opens new swim pond

BLANCHARDVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) – For the primary time in years, Blanchardville residents have a spot to swim in the summertime — and it’s not your typical pool.

On Aug. 1, the village opened a brand new pure swimming pond in McKellar Park, full with inflatable playground tools. It’s the results of years of fundraising, planning, and a significant change in course by the nonprofit Friends of McKellar Park Inc.

The group’s previous pool had been closed for years after structural points made it unusable.

“There was a large crack in the bottom. It was leaking an entire swimming pool worth of water a week… and the expense to the village in regards to water and chemicals was pretty astronomical,” stated Marsha Crooks, a founding member of Friends of McKellar Park.

Crooks stated the group initially got down to change the pool, anticipating to mix native fundraising with state grants. But the Department of Natural Resources grants that funded many out of doors swimming pools within the Sixties and 70s are not out there.

“So by the time it reached $2.4 million, we were deciding that we need pivot and this was the right decision for us,” stated Jody Moen, president of Friends of McKellar Park.

They settled on a pure swimming pond design, which Crooks estimated price between $300,000 and $400,000 to assemble — practically $2 million lower than the pool they first envisioned.

Moen emphasised how the fundraising journey introduced collectively a various group of individuals and strengthened group bonds.

“There are seven of us and we have an amazing array of talents on this committee that none of us would have been friends or at all like. We knew who each other were and things like that. But now that we’ve been in this for almost six years together, we almost talk every day for some reason or another.”

Despite setbacks, together with a number of declined grant functions and private challenges, Moen stated the committee’s perseverance has been inspiring.

“It’s just been an amazing impact that we’ve had on this community now and something that I’ll never forget.”

Since opening day, the pond has been a success.

“They love it. Everybody comes. It’s packed every single day,” stated Hallie Moen, an area teen who remembers the pool closing when she was very younger.

The pond options a big pier, monkey bars, and different floating play buildings. Families say it’s been a welcome addition after years of touring elsewhere to swim.

“We’re dairy farmers, so it’s nice locally to have somewhere to cool off once we’re done with chores,” stated mom of 5 Kris Gruenenfelder.

Crooks stated she hopes the pond will revive a practice of youngsters studying to swim regionally. “I learned to swim here. My husband learned to swim here,” she stated.

The nonprofit is now raising money for a bathhouse with loos, showers, storage, and a lifeguard workplace. They hope to complete that mission earlier than the top of the yr.

For now, the pond is staffed by lifeguards and gives about 85 to 90 life jackets for guests, with households inspired to convey their very own.

Crooks credit the complete group — from massive donors to children operating lemonade stands — for serving to make the pond a actuality.

“It’s incredible. I mean, I really, truly feel like it’s a dream come true,” she stated.

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