Kuckuk gets playground equipment, athletic courts

Kuckuk Park was flowing with visitors June 19 as the city of Shawano celebrated the conclusion of a $2.5 million upgrade made possible through the use of Community Development Block Grant funding.

Hundreds of people came out as parents and their children enjoyed the new playground equipment that is Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant, as well as the new basketball court and pickleball courts constructed over the last year. The funding also allowed for ADA-compliant playground equipment at Memorial Park, replacing equipment that was at the end of its life, and to replace lighting on some of the youth ball fields.

“There was a playground here (at Kuckuk Park), but obviously it’s significantly larger and, even more importantly, it’s fully ADA accessible,” said Matt Hendricks, park and recreation director. “Anyone with physical impairments and challenges can use it. It’s got a lot more components than the other one did.”

The slides have ramps in addition to stairs, Hendricks said, and the surfacing around the playground is a rubbery material instead of the wood chips previously used, making it easier for anyone in a wheelchair to get around.

There are also sidewalks that connect the athletic courts and the playground equipment, according to Hendricks, that were paid for through the CDBG funding. He noted that Kuckuk has always seen use by residents, but the city saw an opportunity to make the park more enticing with additional amenities.

“There was an opportunity to make it more functional, more usable for our community and get more kids, get people who like to play pickleball out, moving and be more active and happy,” Hendricks said.

The new playground at Memorial Park is attached to the splash pad there, which Hendricks said will expand that play area for children. Also included in that area was a small parking lot next to the splash pad.

The city saw the opportunity to improve its parks during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the closure of most other public amenities saw an increased use of the park system.

“After COVID hit, communities saw an increase in mental health challenges and an increase in depression,” Hendricks said. “Our park system, whether it be local, state or national, saw increased usage, sometimes so much that it even went past capacity, which can be detrimental. Seeing that, the federal government put in a lot of money that trickled down to the state, and then we applied for it, and that’s how the money ended up in Shawano.”

Kuckuk has more things to make the park stand out on its own. The Shawano Women of Today painted a mural with butterflies at the park’s pavilion, which Hendricks sees as another opportunity to bring art into the city parks.

Also, the Forget Me Not Fund is setting up a pathway near the pickleball courts, funded by individual community members, according to Alex Hartwig. She noted it will be ADA-compliant, as well, and include some musical elements to it.

“Music is a really special thing. It’s one of those things in the brain that isn’t affected by Alzheimer’s disease the same way other parts of your brain are affected,” Hartwig said. “It’s one of the last things to be affected, so people who have this disease can listen to music, and it’s going to help improve challenging behaviors they might be facing. It can improve their mood, and that’s going to last hours to days after they have those musical experiences.”

Hartwig acknowledged that many community members who bought bricks for the pathway were present at Kuckuk’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I hope as you walk the path and find your loved one’s name that it evokes joy and brings back happy memories while you walk,” Hartwig said.

City Administrator Eddie Sheppard called Kuckuk Park the most inclusive Shawano park to date, but it was only made possible by the community’s support.

“I don’t think people often think of economic development when they think of parks and open space development, but it really is,” Sheppard said. “It’s not only great for our residents, but it’s also really attractive to people from the outside who are looking for a great quality of life and a great place to raise a family.”

Hendricks is happy with what’s been done and hopes Kuckuk will see much more visitation now that there are a variety of things to do at the park.

“It’s generational,” Hendricks said. “Even though this was built in the last year, you see some of these little 4- and 5-year-olds running around. If this is maintained well, which we believe it will, their kids will be playing on this. It has an impact.”

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com