Prairie pool to get new starting blocks
(Left to right) Deidre Stark, Cindy Standorff, Mike Wallace and Penny Remz at the Charles Wacouta Aquatic Park in Prairie du Chien. Stark, Standorff and Remz presented a check to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department on June 10. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
Members of the Waterhawks Swim Team, George Family Foundation and Mike Wallace gathered at the swimming pool on June 10.
By Steve Van Kooten
The Charles Wacouta Aquatic Park in Prairie du Chien has become a indispensible member of the community since its opening in 1991. Now, more than 30 years later, it will receive a substantial upgrade in the form of six new starting blocks.
“For several years, we’ve been doing band-aid repairs to the blocks, and last year, we actually had one of the blocks snap off,” Waterhawks Swim Team Board Member Libby Stark said. “All the other ones are loose because the anchors are stripped, and they’re just wobbly.”
Libby Stark said the old blocks were unsafe and contacted the George Family Foundation (GFF) to help purchase new blocks for the swimming pool.
According to Deidre Stark, a director with the GFF, the foundation gave $22,000 to the city’s parks and recreation department to help purchase the blocks. The Children’s Advisory Board also donated $5,000 toward the acquisition.
At the May 7 Prairie du Chien Common Council meeting, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Mike Wallace informed the council that the starting blocks were purchased with the assistance of two private donors and estimated the cost of $25,767.
On June 10, Deidre Stark, Cindy Standorff and Penny Remz, three sisters from the George family and directors with the GFF, met with Wallace at the aquatic park to present the check. Since its inception in 1996, the GFF has donated to more than 50 projects that demonstrated a “vision and plan for the future” and provide a benefit to Prairie du Chien and the surrounding area. Past projects have included Fort Fun, the public library and Eagle Scout projects.
“Right now, we are looking for the projects,” said Standorff, “but if someone gives us an idea, we are open to suggestions.”
Deidre Stark said the foundation was established to support the community her family has called home.
“They made their living and raised five kids in this community, so they wanted to give back to the community, and they set up the foundation to do that.”
The Charles Wacouta Aquatic Park opened for the season on June 6. Pool hours are 6–9 a.m., 1–6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 7–9 a.m., 1–5 p.m., and 6–8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
