Time to Cut... The Ribbon

An unusually blue sky greeted a couple hundred people as the ribbon was cut Saturday to a project that actually started some 40 years ago. You see Viet Nam Vets had wanted a park with a fishing pond but due to time and resources those initial efforts only went so far and lay fallow until four years ago when one family spearheaded a rejuvenation of the park that now bears their son Chad's name.  I am proud to call Chad's Mom, Barb Erickson, one of my Jazzerbuddies.

Seated on Jazzercise donated bench sits Barb, second to the left next to Deb, our instructor, her long time friend

Chad was the kind of kid who loved the out of doors and specifically this old park area. Due to a complication during an operation when he was nine years old, Chad was left wheel chair bound and passed away at age fifteen.  

With newly paved trails, a dredged and restocked aerated pond and wheel chair accessible bridges and fishing piers, a fun playground area and spacious pavilion, the community has a beautifully refurbished park thanks to community philanthropy and a lot of sweat equity by numerous organizations, the City's Parks and Recreation department, the La Crosse Community Foundation and numerous individuals.

According to Mayor Kabat it's been 40 years since La Crosse opened a new park.  The Chad Erickson Memorial Park is 22 acres located behind the Hill View Senior Home on county land. 

The catch and release trout populated pond bears the name 'Veteran's Pond' in honor of those vets whose dream it was to utilize this space and remember their fellow vets.

 A veteran's honor guard presented arms. 


Taps was played to remember all those who died serving our country. 

There were speeches... given by a member of Vets who volunteered in the original pond project, the Director of Parks and Recreation and Sheila Garrity from the La Crosse Community Foundation, a worker from the Parks and also the Mayor with the park proclamation.

The Erickson Family was presented with a plaque by Mayor Kabat and then Dave Erickson, Chad's father, cut the bridge's ribbon with help from his grandson Carter.

It was great to see so many from the community checking out their beautiful community space. Besides 15 from our Jazzercise group, many seniors had also been brought over from the Senior Living facility next door, neighborhood residents and community members besides the Erickson's other friends and family.

May the Chad Erickson Memorial Park be used for what it is intended and that is to promote the love of Nature. AND...

 May Chad's spirit live on through all those that enjoy this special place.

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