Today a hole in the ground, tomorrow a splash pad

It’s been in the works for a little more than a year, but residents can now see tangible progress on the Village of Fredonia’s splash pad at Marie Kraus Park.

The village Department of Public Works crew excavated the site during the last couple weeks, and plumbing work is underway by CZ Plumbing, Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins said.

Once that’s done, Greatland Electric will come in to do its part of the project, then Quasius Construction will do concrete work on the site, probably sometime in June, Jenkins said.

Each phase will take about a week, he noted, although the concrete work, which will be done in phases, may take longer.

“It’s slowly but surely moving along,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the village doesn’t have a completion date for the project but is planning a celebration when that day arrives.

“We’re not in a big rush,” he said, especially since the village has received a significant number of donations of supplies and labor for the splash pad and is working with donors on the schedule.

For example, Quasius is donating its work, Jenkins said, and Schmitz Ready Mix is providing the concrete at cost — all of which made a significant dent in the projected $80,000 cost for concrete.

The splash pad is estimated to cost $350,000, much of which is being paid through donations.

The splash pad will be on the east side of the parking lot at the park across from the restrooms and near the disc golf course. 

Nearly 40 local businesses and private donors donated more than $130,000 for the splash pad and the Village Board designated $100,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds toward it.

The splash pad received $10,000 donations from Hartmann Sand & Gravel, Casey’s Charitable Fund, Petersen Products and the Fredonia Lions.

The owner of Steffen Plumbing, Kim Steffen, and his wife Joan donated $25,000.

The splash pad is being named after Port Washington State Bank, which was the largest contributor, with a matching grant and a donation totaling $50,000.

In addition, Jenkins said, the village received a number of small donations, including numerous contributions from families excited about the splash pad.

The splash pad is seen as an amenity that will add significantly to one of the most used parks in the village, Jenkins said.

The park is heavily used for sporting events, he said, and this will help increase use by families.

The village is looking at adding a play area and perhaps a pavilion in the future “to make this a very usable space,” Jenkins added.

Earlier this year, the village hired Payne and Dolan, Inc. to pave the parking lot and the road that leads to it, Wenzel Avenue, and the village also plans to resurface the walking path in the park this year.