Rotary Club to Host “PARTY for the PLAYGROUND!” for Inclusive Playground Project
Mequon, Wis. — Families across Ozaukee County and Milwaukee’s Northshore will have the chance to preview a new vision for community recreation at “PARTY for the PLAYGROUND!” a free, family-friendly event celebrating the future Rotary All-User Playground at Mequon Rotary Park, 4100 Highland Road.
Event Information
What: PARTY for the PLAYGROUND!
When: Saturday, August 15, 12–5 p.m.
Where: Mequon Rotary Park – South Playground
Music, carnival games, inflatables
Cost: Free and open to the public
Food trucks on site
Live Music
12–2 p.m. — Kid Boogie Down Kid Boogie Down is a full-sensory, family-friendly dance party for all ages. Milwaukee favorite DJ Reuben brings a high-energy dance experience, packed with family-friendly favorites and today’s biggest hits. 2:30–5 p.m. — The BriTins Milwaukee’s own The BriTins will recreate the Beatles era. Join them as they play hits from the Fab Four, from "Love Me Do" to "Let It Be.” Follow along on a Magical Mystery Tour of sights and sounds through that remarkable era of the 1960's, recreated on authentic Beatles gear.
Additional Activities
Beer garden with nonalcoholic options
Inflatables provided by Elite Sports Clubs
Sponsor booths with free games, activities and prizes
Virtual reality goggles offering a tour of the planned playground.
Building a Playground for Everyone
Designed as a one-of-a-kind, fully inclusive gathering space, the Rotary All-User Playground aims to create a welcoming environment for children and adults of every age and ability. Every feature of the playground has been selected with accessibility, safety, and community connection in mind.
Planned playground features include:
Swings, slides, and climbing structures for all ages
Wheelchair-accessible swings and gliders
Sensory and musical play features
Quiet, shaded retreat spaces
Exercise equipment for adults
Safe, accessible entrances, pathways, and rest areas
“PARTY for the PLAYGROUND!” will give attendees a sneak peek at the project while offering a full afternoon of entertainment and activities for families.
For more information, contact Jenne Hohn at mequonrotarypark@gmail.com, (707) 337-3490.
If you have a question about Mequon Thiensville history there is no better community resource than Bob Blazich. He started his career with a more international focus, serving 51 months in the Air Force as a Russian linguist. Bob never lost his worldly involvement. He and his wife Jan have traveled to over 60 countries, and have lived, worked, and volunteered outside the US for over 5 years.
In civilian life Bob became a therapist and School Social Worker. He retired from working in schools in 2001 and left his clinical work in 2011.
In “retirement” he joined The MT Sunrise Club and served on the Town Center Committee In the latter role became familiar with the Mequon Historical Society. The society had fallen on hard times no money, no membership list, no annual meetings. He got on the board, became president, and revived the organization. The (renamed) Mequon Thiensville Historical Society now is solvent, has over 300 members and Bob runs a MT History Facebook group that has over 7000 members.
Bob was also the first president of the Adult Literacy Center of Ozaukee County and (no surprise) was Mequon Thiensville Citizen of the Year in 2006.
One of the major projects of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club has been the City of Mequon Rotary Park, which was officially launched September 17, 1987 marking the fiftieth anniversary of the club's existence.
The site encompasses approximately 95 acres and is located on Highland Road near the Milwaukee Area Technical College's north campus. The Thiensville-Mequon Rotary club donated the site to the City of Mequon in 1991 and has remained actively involved in its development as a recreational resource for residents across the Thiensville-Mequon community.
In 1992, the T-M Rotary was awarded a "Significant Achievement Award" by the President of Rotary International, Rajendra K. Saboo, as a result of 5 years of effort in turning the club's vision for an active use park in the City of Mequon into a reality. District Governor Rick Luedke was so impressed by T-M Rotary's success with City of Mequon Rotary Park that he petitioned Rotary International to present this highest honor. Our club, and District 6270 is deeply honored by this award, as it is rarely awarded. Since the award was presented to our club, many additional improvements have been added to the park, including 2 pavilions and the gazebo, three baseball fields and two playgrounds.
A Letter From Our Leaders:
Dear Friends,
Parks have the power to bring people together. They positively impact a community by promoting economic development, a higher quality of life, and improved mental and physical health. Parks that accommodate all users—not just children, but people of all abilities and ages—are more important than ever.
With a motto of "Service Above Self," the two Rotary Clubs that serve Mequon and Thiensville have improved our local communities for over 100 years. Construction of an All-User Playground is a critical addition to Mequon Rotary Park. With the community's support, Rotary is committed to making it their signature project for all to enjoy.
The decision to pursue an All-User Playground was not made lightly. It was initially identified as a need in the City of Mequon's 2019 master planning efforts. COVID put the project on hold. Since July 2022, a significant amount of time has been spent discussing, studying, planning, and determining that it is sorely needed.
Most of the playground equipment in Mequon parks is over 30 years old. Some of it had already been used when donated. When speaking with other communities about their all-inclusive playgrounds, they overwhelmingly indicated that those playgrounds are their most popular, not just for children with special needs but for all users.
We are excited about this new, state-of-the-art, accessible, fun playground that will enrich the lives of our residents and be a place that Mequon and Thiensville residents can use and be proud of. When asked to contribute, we hope you reply with a resounding "yes" and a generous gift to address this unmet need.
A Message From the Port Washington Rotary President: Our club has arranged a tour of the Vantage Data Centers Lighthouse campus in Port Washington on Wednesday, August 12 at noon. Given the scale of this project and the impact it's having across Ozaukee County and the wider region, I'd like to extend the invitation to your clubs as well. It seemed only right to share the opportunity beyond our own membership.
A few details:
Date and time: Wednesday, August 12, at noon
Location: Vantage Lighthouse campus, Port Washington (exact meeting point to follow)
Vantage requires a confirmed attendee list in advance for site access, so registration is required.
Space may be limited, so before opening registration widely I'd appreciate a rough sense of how many from your club might be interested. If you could gauge interest and let me know, I'll coordinate with Vantage on capacity and then share registration details and the meeting location.
As August 12 gets closer, here are the confirmed details along with a gentle reminder so any interested members can get on the list in time:
Date and time: Wednesday, August 12, at noon
Meeting point: Vantage trailer, 1374 Lake Dr, Port Washington, WI
Plan for about 90 minutes for the tour
Closed-toe shoes required
The tour is conducted largely from a bus, with a possible chance to step off at a few of the stops depending on site activity that day
The key item: Vantage needs a confirmed attendee list in advance for site access, so anyone who wants to attend must be registered by Wednesday, August 5. We can't add names at the door. Interested members can register here:
The first District Minute has been uploaded: https://youtu.be/Noi0mFD91so?si=RmjeYlVjhFGZTq08. These will go live on our district YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@RID6270 every first and third Sunday of the month. Be sure to subscribe and check in regularly for the latest District 6270 information and highlights from clubs across our district!
Founded in 1610 as the capital of Nuevo México, a province of New Spain, Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States and the earliest European settlement west of the Mississippi River. Its name, Spanish for "Holy Faith", is the shortened form of its original name, La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís (Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi).[8][9] The city prospered as a leading commercial and transportation hub,[10] driven by lucrative trade and migration routes such as El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and the Santa Fe Trail. Nuevo México became a territory of Mexico after Mexican independence from Spain in 1821. It was ceded to the United States in 1848 following the Mexican–American War, and in 1851 Santa Fe was named the capital of the U.S. Territory of New Mexico; it became New Mexico's state capital in 1912.[11] Santa Fe remained the political and cultural center of New Mexico throughout the Spanish, Mexican, and American periods, which each impacted the city's development and character.
Blending indigenous, Spanish, and American influences, Santa Fe is considered the cultural capital of the Southwestern United States,[11] and is widely regarded as one of the country's major art cities.[12][13] In 2005, it was the first U.S. city inducted into the UNESCOCreative Cities Network.[14] Santa Fe hosts more than 250 art galleries, a large concentration of museums, and three annual art events: the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, the R/Traditional Spanish Colonial Market, and the Indian Market. One-tenth of all employment is related to artistic and cultural industries, with writers and authors making up the highest proportion of the labor force of any U.S. city.[10]
