Fort Fun-draiser kicks off campaign for local playground

By Steve Van Kooten

On Feb. 20, The Barn restaurant in Prairie du Chien hosted Celebrity Waiter Night to raise money for improvements to the Fort Fun playground.

The event took place from 4 to 10 p.m. with a portion of the proceeds going toward park improvement efforts. Additionally, patrons could make separate cash donations to the project.

The roster of guest servers changed throughout the night. City Administrator Chad Abram previously announced that he and Police Chief Kyle Teynor would be present during the event, and others included PdC Municipal Airport Manager Todd Berry, Re/Max Gold’s Jenny Coleman and WQPC’s Laurie Wild, to name a few.

The city’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director, Mike Wallace, was also present to show off two conceptual drawings for what could replace the current wooden structures at the park.

“The current structures and everything at Fort Fun would be taken down, and we would start from new ground,” he said. 

“The two designs have accommodations for people with disabilities, fulfilling the all-abilities goal Wallace and the Park Board envision for the improved Fort Fun. Recreation and I talked, and we came up with a design of what the community wanted, [the] parts that they liked and parts that they wanted to have. We have more equipment for mobility issues that may occur,” he said.

Wallace presented two options to the public: a smaller option with less equipment that would cost approximately $350,000 and a larger option with more equipment for approximately $472,000.

These options are still works in progress, according to Wallace.

The second, larger design would include more all-abilities equipment on the grounds and the inclusion of accessible ziplines.

He also noted that design elements could change throughout the project.

Wallace said the project is pursuing the use of poured-in-place rubber surfacing for the playground’s top layer. PIP typically uses plastic granules or ethylene propylene monomer over a rubber cushioning. These protective layers usually cover a stone, concrete or asphalt foundation. These surfaces can make use of recycled materials.

“That is generally about half of our cost,” he said. “With our current projects that we have, it’s around the range of $150,000 to close to $170,000 for the rubberized flooring.”

Optional costs could also include $70,000 for wood chips to place underneath the ziplines.

Wallace added that the goal is to have the project completed next year, and more fundraising events will take place to try and transform Fort Fun.

”I would like for this project to be 18 months from start to finish. So, starting in January, I would like it to be the spring of 2026 [when] I can say that the project is complete,” he said.

In addition to fundraising events, anyone can contribute by purchasing merchandise at https://sportsworld.chipply.com/fortfun25/.

Fort Fun was built in 1997, and its current struggles have been well documented during city council meetings:

• This past April, Marc Leathers, president of Playgrounds by Leathers, gave the city a 55-page report assessing Fort Fun’s remodel and repair needs. The estimated cost was $350,000. Prolonged use, adverse weather and sun exposure have taken their toll: wood has splintered, metal has bowed and rubber has torn — it needs more than a little elbow grease to fix its problems.

• During the fall, the playground was inspected, and the equipment was removed for safety reasons, according to Wallace.

• This past November, Abram said the city had to remove some play equipment due to deteriorating wood. At that time, Wallace noted that a tire swing, wood balance beams and a slide were removed as well.

• At the Feb. 4 Common Council meeting, Abram announced the first fundraiser would take place.