Emily & Eric Krug: Building an All-Inclusive Park for the Community

Emily and Eric Krug, a couple from Plover, Wisconsin have made a remarkable impact on their community by helping to transform Lake Pacawa into an all-inclusive park. Their journey began with their daughter, who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and faced numerous health challenges. Together the family visited various all-inclusive parks and realized the need for such a park in their own community.  

Around that time, Eric, who works for the Fire Department and is also the Building Inspector for the Village of Plover, discovered that the Village was considering adding a splash pad to Lake Pacawa. Emily, while at home with their daughter recovering from complications from a stroke, took it upon herself to do some research and found inspiration in other parks with features that would be suitable for individuals of all ages and abilities. They believed Lake Pacawa would be an ideal location for an all-inclusive park, away from busy streets and with ample space.  

Eric presented the idea to Ryan Kernosky, former Planning and Zoning Administrator and Dan Mahoney, former Village of Plover Administrator. To Eric’s surprise, Dan had wanted to do something like this for a long time and they were completely on board! Ryan and Eric began immediately working on a design for a fully accessible recreational space.  

Once the design phase was completed, the real excitement began. The team needed to initiate fundraising but lacked familiarity with the process. Enter Leigh Kraemer. When Eric was introduced to Leigh by his sister, Jen Krug Melville, Assistant Principal at SPASH, she enthusiastically embraced it wholeheartedly, exceeding expectations. Leigh became the heart and soul of the project.  
 

To start off they had some great fundraising ideas, but they faced challenges particularly with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a combination of numerous community donations, corporate sponsorships, door-to-door appeals and the creation of a dedicated website, they garnered significant support for the project.  They also obtained a grant from the Community Foundation, resulting in a substantial contribution of $50,000.  

The community's exceptional commitment and contributions went beyond all expectations, showcasing the devotion that our community members have for each other. Among the generous donors are Michael and Quyen Hom, Karla Lockman, as well as Edith and Dallas Pankowski, and numerous others who generously supported the construction of the piers, kayak launches, and the story walk. Additionally, Karen Trzebiatowski, Jenna and Nate Olson and their family played a crucial role in establishing the annual Lake Pacawa 5k, Run, Walk & Roll event, which serves as a significant fundraising opportunity for the park every year. This 5k event now serves as the exciting kickoff for the annual Celebrate Plover festivities, which is July 28-29th this year, check them out!  
 

The Krug family wishes to acknowledge the many individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, from the project's inception until the present. Among these individuals is Steve Kunst, the current Village Administrator, who assumed the reins from Dan Mahoney and embraced the project. Also, a special shout out to the Public Works team, Matt Stallone and Roy Hops, for their support of the park in its entirety. Their dedication ensures that the park is consistently clean, sanitized, and properly maintained.  
 

Emily and Eric are a testament to the power of community and collaboration. Their humility and dedication to the project have garnered them a well-deserved nomination. During our interview their passion for the park and gratitude for all those involved was evident. They placed significant emphasis on the group of individuals who wholeheartedly embraced their vision and worked tirelessly to bring it to life. It's worth noting that several of these individuals, much like Eric and Emily, may not actively seek recognition, yet their contributions are truly deserving of acknowledgment. On behalf of the People of Portage County, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, including our community, who brought this vision to fruition. Your dedication and efforts have made a lasting impact on our community. Thank you! 

Celebrate Plover is on July 28-29th this year! To check out all it has to offer and consider donating to the park, check out their website here: https://www.ploverwi.gov/337/Celebrate-Plover-Event