Officials Tour New Glarus Ahead of Ribbon Cutting
L to R: State Senator Howard Marklein; Jennifer Mnookin, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor; Lauren Freeman, Village of New Glarus; Shelly Johnson, New Glarus Cares; Will Omeichen, Legislative Assistant from State Representative Mike Bare's office. Photo taken by Abigail Becker, UniverCity Alliance.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, State Senator Howard Marklein, and Will Omeichen from State Representative Mike Bare’s office visited New Glarus Monday morning to see the progress on the village's new inclusive playground. Representatives from UW-Madison's UniverCity program, which contributed to the village's master outdoor recreation plan, also attended the event.
The playground, located at Candy Cane Park, is designed to accommodate children of all ages and abilities, creating a welcoming space for the entire community. The UW-Madison team played a key role in helping the Village of New Glarus develop its outdoor recreation vision, and Monday’s tour offered a chance to see the plan in action.
“It was gratifying to show them the tangible results of their work,” said Shelly Johnson, President of New Glarus Cares, the nonprofit organization that partnered with the Village of New Glarus and many donors on the project. “They were incredibly complimentary of the collaboration between New Glarus Cares and the Village to bring this project to life.”
During the tour, officials discussed the importance of the playground for the village and the surrounding area, praising the community's efforts in securing the necessary funding. The inclusive playground is expected to become a central gathering place for families in New Glarus, offering a space where children of all ages and abilities can come together.
The official ribbon cutting for the playground is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend, with a potluck picnic following the ceremony. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share and a lawn chair or blanket.
“We are excited to welcome everyone to this new space,” said Johnson. “Thank you to UW-Madison, state legislative representatives, and everyone else who has supported this project. Together, we are building a more inclusive future for New Glarus.”
