For the Gazette
STEVENS POINT – Since 2002, when the old Emerson School was torn down, a full city block of Clark Street, one of Stevens Point’s main and historic thoroughfares, has stood vacant except for a basketball court, a backstop, and an outdated playground.

Now the Friends of Emerson Park’s continuing campaign to create a neighborhood park and community gathering space in the heart of the City has reached an early milestone on the way to its $900,000 goal.

On March 29, representatives of Simplicity Credit Union, based in Marshfield with a full-service branch in Stevens Point, paid a visit to Emerson Park. The site tour provided the banking team the opportunity to see the park and visualize improvements firsthand. Simplicity’s $9,000 donation, pledged over three years, is among those that have brought the park campaign to almost 25 percent of its goal.

During the site visit, Amy Kubisiak, Simplicity’s local team lead for Member Service

Representatives, said “I grew up a few blocks from Emerson School and we loved using this big space for all different kinds of activities. When our local Simplicity branch was asked to donate, I said to our manager, ‘We need to be part of it, to support this neighborhood community. The vision the group has for the park is fantastic.’”

“We are thrilled with this multi-year pledge from Simplicity” shared Ginger Keymer, of the Friends of Emerson Park, “Major donors have the opportunity to be the spark that propels this project forward, transforming Emerson Park to a community gem in the heart of our City.“

Other first quarter donors in 2022 include Marshfield Medical Center-River Region at Stevens Point & Security Health Plan, Stevens Point Area Co-op, and a Local Community Grant from Walmart #1828 in Plover. Pledged gifts awarded in late 2021, include $5,000 from both Delta Dental of Wisconsin and Monogram Loves Kids Foundation, and $2,000 from Stevens Point Elks Lodge #641.

Master Park Plans, developed in-kind by Rettler Corporation, include a modern playground, a multipurpose athletic court, and an open-air pavilion. The park will be developed in stages, beginning in 2023. The campaign is ending its quiet phase with gifts from early donors, with the kick-off of the public phase planned for late Spring.

Donations can be made through the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, which serves as the Friends of Emerson Park’s 501(c)(3) at http://bit.ly/EmersonParkSP.