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Health & Fitness

What Do You Want Out of Your Parks?

Lean, but still green! A new Facebook page, roof repairs, new Commission members and feedback needed from the community! Please leave your comments

Hello neighbors! As an appointed Member and Vice President of the Caledonia Parks & Recreation Commission I wanted to reach out to all citizens and present an update of what we've been up to and would like to do, as well as get some feedback from the community to best make wise decisions for our village in the coming months.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER
Some folks in our community may not even be aware of our vast park network, or the resources available to us, and I want to make that abundantly available to you all as well. Of course, while a sitcom exhibits an amusing look at how over-zealous some folks take their Parks & Rec duties, I also hold in high regard the handling of our taxpayers' monies and do not think it is an off-hand responsibility. Most of the men in my father's family, including my father served in the Milwaukee County Parks System for decades in almost every capacity, and I have a deep love and appreciation for having a place to take my own son to fly his plane, fish, ride his jeep or play baseball in parks that are well-maintained and safe. And we are incredibly lucky in Caledonia to have more greenspace than any other incorporated community in the area other than Milwaukee and Racine itself. So yes, I take it seriously.

Recently, our Commission created a Facebook page for the parks, where you can get updates, or POST YOUR OWN updates about happenings in the parks we have, and to retrieve information you may need to use them. It is still under development, but PLEASE LIKE THE PAGE, and then use the INVITE YOUR FRIENDS button on the right side of the timeline to let your family and neighbors know about the page. We need your help to make this a part of our community connection more effective. Thank you for your participation.

Some other projects the Commission has recently undertaken are the repairs of fencing and trails at Gorney, Linwood and Nicholson Wildlife Refuge, and much needed replacement of roofs on two shelters at Gorney and Crawford Parks. Removal and repair of some minor vandalism has also required our attention, so we ask that our neighbors keep their eye out and help us protect the parks every day.

TREASURE AT NICHOLSON WR
Last week, we had the opportunity to hear from members of the Caledonia Historical Society and other dedicated parks users about the conditions of the Nicholson Wildlife Refuge and updates on the new boardwalk that is being built for us free of charge. Please stay plugged in to hear more on the progress of this project, and the efforts we're taking this summer to make the park more accessible and clean. Check out the Facebook page in the coming months to stay informed on it's progress.

LEAN, BUT STILL GREEN
Over the years, the Village has needed to necessarily trim the available budget to maintain the parks but it has led to cutbacks in some areas we may have previously taken for granted. Even so, you would be very impressed with the stingy but excellent oversight, maintenance and leadership of these volunteer Commission Members, long before I arrived.

Bob Strauss deserves recongition for his continued donation of countless hours to physical labor and investigation of costs in finding affordable, quality work for repairs and maintenance. Scott Warner has been a very effective Commission President of the Department since taking over last year. The other Members include Jim Dobbs, Martha Christensen, Kathy Burton (Secretary) and Tom Spieker, and then myself. We meet once per month, on the second Thursday at 7pm, either in the Village Hall or at the Eastside Community Center on Douglas Ave. Locations, agendas and times can be followed at the Caledonia Village site on the Agendas and Minutes page HERE.

OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH
We were reminded this last month that through various non-profit grants, donations and segregated/restricted impact fees our Parks Commission has the opportunity to make improvements or additions to our Parks system to better serve the community and I would like feedback from the Village before submitting my own recommendations. So please, write your concerns and/or new ideas in the comments below, or to my email (edward.willing@att.net).

These ideas can include new land purchases, playgrounds, bridges, sports' fields, parking accomodations, ped/bike trails, etc. Anything "new" and "supplemental" to our existing system is up for consideration. The rental fees from the use of our shelters and other facilities are ahead of last year's pace and allow us to pay for various expenses as they arise much quicker than before. However, to make our parks even better, we must create a priority list of desired improvements, and your feedback is essential.

I am proud to say that other communities and their residents use our parks because they are quality, well-located and spacious. But, it took me at least a year of living here myself before I knew of half the parks we had. That is my fault, but I would like to make it easier in the future for new residents, and existing ones alike to know of, and participate in our greenspaces and amenities, and the activities held there year-round. So for now, the Facebook page, and community engagement is the best way to do that.

Thank you for making it possible.

Sincerely serving Caledonia,
Ed Willing
Vice-President, Caledonia Parks & Rec Commission

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