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Ready to swim?
New, long-awaited McKellar Park Swim Pond opens in Blanchardville
blanchardville swim pond
It was a busy opening weekend at the new McKellar Park Swim Pond, with many enthusiastic children and families taking a dip in the water and trying the inflatables for the first time. The new pond sits in lower McKellar Park next to the back baseball diamond.

BLANCHARDVILLE — The answer was a resounding yes when Friends of McKellar Park, Inc. members asked the crowd, “Who’s ready to swim?” at the grand opening of the new swim pond in Blanchardville.

An excited group of families, children, onlookers, and members of the nonprofit that brought the McKellar Park Swim Pond to life gathered Aug. 1 to celebrate the six-year journey to opening the facility in the lower park. The grand opening — complete with ribbon cutting — was the culmination of more than a half decade of planning, challenges, fundraising and collaboration to provide a space for the community to enjoy summer recreation.

“I still can’t believe we’re standing here on the edge of what was once just a dream and is now a beautiful swim pond for our community,” said Marsha Crooks, a member of the Friends group that organized the planning process leading to the pond’s creation. “When we said we’d build something that brings people together, we meant it.

blanchardville swim pond
Members of Friends of McKellar Park, Inc. were thrilled to break ground for a new swim pond in Blanchardville in May. Pictured with shovels in hand are, from left, Kimmie Marty, Marsha Crooks, Deb Ames, Beth Kundert, Terry Litchfield, Jody Moen and Dawn Cockroft.

“This pond is more than a place to swim — it’s a symbol of what happens when people believe in something bigger than themselves.”

The effort to bring the recreational space back to the village began prior to the pandemic in 2019 with a desire to repair or replace the aging pool, which needed significant work — and dollars — to accomplish. A group of motivated area residents came together to start fundraising money to put toward the pool restoration efforts, but over time, it became clear that the cost of a new traditional pool and ongoing maintenance would be too large a financial investment to undertake.

The nonprofit Friends of McKellar Park, Inc. formed to provide an official home and structure for fundraising efforts, which included two main fundraisers of an annual Blue Jean Ball and PAR-TEE for the McKellar Park golf outing. In all, the group has raised nearly $500,000 since 2019 and plans to continue fundraising to provide financial support for swim pond maintenance, including water treatment and inflatable needs, moving forward. The village has now taken over administration of the site.

blanchardville swim pond
McKellar Park Swim Pond officially opened on Friday, Aug. 1 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public swim. Pictured, from left, are Friends of McKellar Park, Inc. planning group members Kimmie Marty, Deb Ames, Terry Litchfield, Dawn Cockroft, Jody Moen and Marsha Crooks.

“It has been a long, interesting road, and I’ve learned so much — not only about fundraising and all nonprofit administrative work but also about perseverance and the positive impact a group of smart, amazing women of all ages and backgrounds can have,” said Jody Moen, one of the founding members of the Friends group. “Seeing this swimming pond come to fruition and witnessing all the enjoyment it is bringing people is beyond anything I ever imagined and is truly gratifying.”

Swimming in Blanchardville began in 1939 with what was informally referred to as “the ol’ swimming hole” that had a sandy bottom. It typically had one lifeguard on duty and a bathhouse was added in the early 1940s. That facility remained until the concrete pool that many current residents remember opened in 1966, according to records from the Blanchardville Historical Society. Over time, the concrete pool had significant repair and ongoing maintenance needs. When it closed in 2019, the Friends group and many community members began brainstorming what could be brought to the village to provide a similar experience for children, teens and families like so many across generations had enjoyed at the pool for five decades.

blanchardville swim pond
Shoes and sandals quickly flew off as the gates opened and families entered McKellar Park Swim Pond for the first time. Last week’s grand opening was the culmination of nearly six years of fundraising, planning, and collaboration.

The new swim pond is similar to a pool in that the water receives cleaning and treatment but in a different way than pools — that is, without chemicals. It has inflatable structures in the center in Pecatonica School District green and gold and is 10 feet deep at its far end. It has a gradual entry like former swimmers of the pool remember, which starts with a sandy beach on the edge of the water, which is dyed blue.

“We’ve created something special here that will benefit the village for decades,” Moen said. “I am so proud to be a part of that legacy.”

The Friends group extended deep gratitude to the community for its support, whether financial and volunteer hours or being enthusiastic cheerleaders for the project.

“We want to thank everyone who donated, shared a post, attended a fundraiser or asked how they could help,” Crooks said. “Whether you gave a dollar or an hour, your support made a difference.”

All swimmers are asked to submit a waiver form to enter the facility. Season passes for the rest of this year are $20 for individuals or $40 for families. Daily admission is $5. For more information on all the Friends group’s efforts, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/McKellarParkFriends.