The Prairie du Chien Fort Fun renovation has been given a tremendous amount of community support from large organizations to generous individuals making contributions. And one of the project’s most unexpected supporters, Xander Cerven, has spent more than a year dropping money off at City Hall for the project.

“He loves the old Fort Fun,” said Gregg Cerven, who is Xander’s “Papa.” “So, when they had a sign out saying they were raising funds to replace it... About every week he’d give his allowance and go across the street to give it to Mike. As things were going on, he wanted to figure out some way to get more for it.”

“I was never in my office, but, finally, one day I was. I went out and met him and thanked him for donating money for the new playground,” said Prairie du Chien Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Wallace.

Wallace said once they met, he showed Xander the plans for the new playground, which only fueled Xander’s excitement. “He was donating allowance money he earned... I showed him what it was going to look like, and his eyes got really big, and then a big smile. He wanted to do more.”

“Mike showed him pictures of the design and stuff, and Xander said, ‘I’m going to raise money for that — I want to do that,’” said Gregg Cerven.

Xander set out a donation basket at the Local Oven asking for donations. Gregg said he started the fundraising this past June. Xander’s original goal was to raise $150 besides his allowance. Between the basket and his allowance, he raised more than $220.

“We Facebooked it, and he told lots of people about it. We had a basket here, and that’s where he built that money,” said Gregg Cerven.

The success of Xander’s fundraising for Fort Fun also seems to have engendered his entrepreneurial spirit, according to his Uncle Joe Cerven.

“He has this collection of rocks, so he started selling them,” said Joe. “It went well with the [fundraiser], so he’s like, ‘I can do these other things, too.’”

Rotary Club

Fort Fun also accepted a $14,200 donation from the Prairie du Chien Rotary Club earlier this fall.

“We felt this project connected really well with our club’s overall philosophy and mission of supporting initiatives that make a positive difference in our community,” said Logan Coulter, president of the Prairie du Chien Rotary Club.

Coulter said the Rotary raised the money through various events and contributions from their membership. “Our club is fortunate to have members and community supporters who believe in giving back and helping make projects like Fort Fun possible.”

He added that the community action groups like the Rotary make a difference by “bringing people together who share a common goal of making their community a better place.”

“Through fundraising, volunteer work, and local partnerships, we can help turn ideas into reality and support projects that might otherwise struggle to get the resources they need,” said Coulter. “These donations have an impact that goes beyond the dollars contributed. They help create opportunities for families, improve shared community spaces, and make our town a more welcoming place for residents and visitors alike.”

The Rotary Club still has one big event left in 2026: Operation Santa. Each year, the club brings together Christmas necessities, toys, food and gifts to be distributed to families in need. “Whether we’re supporting a project like Fort Fun or helping families through Operation Santa, every contribution is an investment in our community and its future. We believe that when people work together and give back locally, even small contributions can make a lasting difference.”