Fort Fun receives donation from Peoples State Bank
(Left to right) Aphton Check, Mike Wallace, Brennan Clark, Grant Martin and Allison Oswald. Wallace accepted a $20,000 donation toward the Fort Fun remodel project from Peoples State Bank this past week. The Fort Fun Park has accumulated close to $300,000 in donations since fundraising began earlier this year. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
By Steve Van Kooten
Prairie du Chien’s Fort Fun fundraising effort received another substantial donation this past week when Peoples State Bank presented the city with a $20,000 check.
“We’re a community bank, so we like to be involved in community causes,” said Brennan Clark, president of Peoples State Bank. “We see this as a good cause.”
The Fort Fundraiser has now accrued close to $300,000 thanks to awards from local businesses and nonprofit organizations, such as The Barn and the George Family Foundation.
Clark is also on the Fort Fun Committee, which was established to organize fundraising events, pursue grant opportunities and contribute to the park’s upgrades and redesign.
“It means a lot to me. I’ve got three young kids. Stuff like this supports our kids,” he added.
“We distribute a lot of donations to the communities we serve… this [funding] effectively comes from our coffers,” he said.
Wallace said the push to remodel the park started in spring 2023, several months before he succeeded Mike Ulrich as the city’s parks and recreation director. On April 27, 2023, Marc Leathers of Playgrounds by Leathers submitted a report that assessed the park’s needs.
The 55-page report assessed Fort Fun’s remodel and repair needs. The estimated cost was $350,000. The remodel is now considering a total overhaul to make the park an inclusive play area, which could cost between $350,000 and $470,000.
Playground equipment has been removed periodically over the past year. According to Wallace, a slide was taken out earlier in October due to wear and tear.
Wallace previously reported that a tire swing, wood balance beams and a slide were removed due to damage and wear and tear.
