MONROE - The fireworks put on a show, but it takes a a few hundred people to make the Fourth of July event in Monroe a memorable one each year.
Recreation Director Marge Klinzing is one of the city staff who set out to organize the annual day of activities and fireworks. The city hosts horse and wagon rides, a petting zoo and carnival games, as well as softball, volleyball and soccer tournaments. All of which Klinzing said could not exist without the ongoing sponsorship of businesses and groups throughout the city.
"The whole community, businesses and social organizations, each sponsor something," Klinzing said. "There's a lot of people who donate their time to make this event possible. Without all of these people and donations this wouldn't be possible."
Carnival games, for instance, include the Wheel of Misfortune hosted by the Monroe Morning Optimists and face painting and tattoos by Colony Brands. The fireworks show has been sponsored by Wisconsin Bank and Trust for 25 years, a fact Park Director Paul Klinzing said planners took into account when discussing fireworks plans.
"Certainly without their help we wouldn't be able to have as good of a show as we do," he said.
Organizing begins in January and continues throughout six months of gathering 300 volunteers and reaching out to places throughout town like the Monroe Fire Department firefighters and city EMTs who take time to volunteer at the concession stand provided by groups like the Knights of Columbus, the Parks and Recreation Depart-ment and the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. All money made will go toward building a new shelter at Twining Park.
The cap on the day is the fireworks, which is a show put on by Krueger Pyrotechnics from Cuba City. The company has been organizing the show each year for Monroe since 2009. Staff with the department have a meeting with Krueger Pyrotechnics workers to determine what the show will look like each year. Paul Klinzing said the group has always been "safety conscious" and ensures it uses materials suitable for the park's size.
Volunteers for the event receive T-shirts designed by Parks and Recreation Department staff member McKenna Christensen, who has been working in the department office while also attending college as a marketing student. The shirts embrace the theme presented by Alyssa Montgomery of the department staff, "Let the 4th Be With You."
Recreation Director Marge Klinzing is one of the city staff who set out to organize the annual day of activities and fireworks. The city hosts horse and wagon rides, a petting zoo and carnival games, as well as softball, volleyball and soccer tournaments. All of which Klinzing said could not exist without the ongoing sponsorship of businesses and groups throughout the city.
"The whole community, businesses and social organizations, each sponsor something," Klinzing said. "There's a lot of people who donate their time to make this event possible. Without all of these people and donations this wouldn't be possible."
Carnival games, for instance, include the Wheel of Misfortune hosted by the Monroe Morning Optimists and face painting and tattoos by Colony Brands. The fireworks show has been sponsored by Wisconsin Bank and Trust for 25 years, a fact Park Director Paul Klinzing said planners took into account when discussing fireworks plans.
"Certainly without their help we wouldn't be able to have as good of a show as we do," he said.
Organizing begins in January and continues throughout six months of gathering 300 volunteers and reaching out to places throughout town like the Monroe Fire Department firefighters and city EMTs who take time to volunteer at the concession stand provided by groups like the Knights of Columbus, the Parks and Recreation Depart-ment and the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. All money made will go toward building a new shelter at Twining Park.
The cap on the day is the fireworks, which is a show put on by Krueger Pyrotechnics from Cuba City. The company has been organizing the show each year for Monroe since 2009. Staff with the department have a meeting with Krueger Pyrotechnics workers to determine what the show will look like each year. Paul Klinzing said the group has always been "safety conscious" and ensures it uses materials suitable for the park's size.
Volunteers for the event receive T-shirts designed by Parks and Recreation Department staff member McKenna Christensen, who has been working in the department office while also attending college as a marketing student. The shirts embrace the theme presented by Alyssa Montgomery of the department staff, "Let the 4th Be With You."