Fort Atkinson Community Foundation Provides Grant Support for Kiwanis Youth Field Improvements

Fort Atkinson, WI – October 28, 2025 – The Fort Atkinson Community Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a $20,000 grant to support a partnership project between the Fort Atkinson Parks & Recreation Department and Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club to provide much-needed improvements at the Kiwanis Youth Fields in Rock River Park.

“Our Board of Directors appreciates the opportunity to lend support to this collaborative community project,” states Lisa Caras, Fort Atkinson Community Foundation Board Chairman. “The Kiwanis Club has worked hard to fundraise over $20,000 for this project through efforts of their volunteer members, and we are honored to provide grant funding to help them achieve their Phase 1 goals for this project.”

The Kiwanis Youth Fields Project Phase 1 focuses on a few primary improvements. First, to create a hard surface path from the parking lot to the fields to improve accessibility for individuals with mobility barriers. Second, to install a concrete pad adjacent to the concessions stand for picnic tables. Third, is to provide upgraded bleachers for both fields that are safe and low-maintenance – a significant improvement from the outdated, wooden bleachers currently in use. And lastly, to purchase a set of high school regulation soccer goals to expand use of the fields to the Jefferson County United Soccer Club.

“Our club is incredibly grateful to the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation for their support of approximately half the costs we estimate for the Phase 1 improvements, “states John Kutz, Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club Treasurer. “We are excited to see the work beginning at the fields and are thankful for the community support that has already rallied behind this project, including a generous contribution from Fort Youth Football. We’re also very grateful for the partnership from the Parks & Recreation team and board to help bring these long overdue improvements to heavily used youth fields in our community.”

The Fort Atkinson Parks & Recreation team worked closely with the Kiwanis Club on the site plan to ensure the planned improvements were accessible, functional, and sustainable. The improvements also directly align with both the department’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) and the City of Fort Atkinson Comprehensive Plan.

“Our department’s five-year CORP outlines improvements for parks and open spaces throughout the city and specifically highlights the need to ‘assess the cost of replacing football facilities, including storage, bleachers, paths, and benches’,” notes Ben Dayton, Parks and Recreation Department Director. “The project plans also support our city’s Comprehensive Plan which outlines the need for designing park facilities that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The full scope of the project involves additional Phase II improvements, including upgraded LED lighting, reconfiguring of fields for both football and soccer use, enhanced equipment for multi-sport use, and additional analysis of parking and fencing needs. The Parks and Recreation team is gathering estimates for the total cost of these remaining improvements, and the Kiwanis Club will continue fundraising efforts next Spring to support Phase II.

“Our Kiwanis Club is committing to providing financial support to this project for the next few years through our fundraising efforts from our annual raffle and our summer charity concerts,” Kutz adds. “Our Club’s entire mission is about supporting youth in our community, and we’re honored to be in a position to expand those efforts through this exciting project.”

Phase I work is underway and is expected to be completed in time for spring activities at the fields.

“We look forward to seeing the impact of these improvements and are so thankful to the donors who have supported this project beyond our grant dollars,” notes Caras.

Donations in support of this project can be directed to the non-endowed, designated Kiwanis Youth Fields Fund at the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. Contributions to the fund can be made via the foundation’s website at www.fortfoundation.org and clicking on the “Donate” button and selecting the “Kiwanis Youth Fields Fund.” Check donations can also be mailed to the foundation at 244 N. Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538, noting “Kiwanis Youth Fields Fund” in the memo.

Questions about the project can be directed to Ben Dayton at bdayton@fortatkinsonwi.gov and questions about fundraising efforts can be directed to John Kutz at john@msigeneral.com. Any foundation related questions should be sent to Megan Hartwick, FACF Executive Director at facf@fortfoundation.org.

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The Fort Atkinson Community Foundation was established in 1973 with a gift of $25,000 from Mary Hoard, who wanted to benefit a future Fort Atkinson. Inspired by the thoughtful gift, community-minded citizens set up the foundation to be able to accept donations to enhance the quality of life in Fort Atkinson. Run by a volunteer, five-member Board of Directors and full-time Executive Director, the foundation now manages over $42 million in assets across 89 funds and distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in scholarships and local grant funding. All funding supports the organization’s mission of “A Better Fort Atkinson.”