A painting auction, print sales and naming rights are all part of fundraising $1.5M for the new Rockwell Park in Oconomowoc
After raising $1.3 million to purchase the land for the future Rockwell Park in 2021, residents are once again fundraising — this time to build the park they envisioned for the community.
Chris and Frank Both, who both initially led the charge for the park project in 2020 and 2021, have announced plans to raise even more now to help the park get built.
To kick off the latest effort, the community has called on one of its own: lifelong resident and artist Tim Spransy. When he heard the project would be fundraising again, he offered to create a painting that could be auctioned off. He spent three months painting a scenic depiction of the park looking out over Lac La Belle.
The painting was unveiled Aug. 21 at the conclusion of the Light Up the Lake Boat Parade & Fireworks. Bidding for the painting starts at $20,000, and the auction is active until Oct. 15. Additionally, 25 giclée prints that Spransy used for the painting are also being sold for $1,000 each.
"It truly shows what makes this park amazing," Chris Both said. "You have great sunrises and sunsets, and Tim created that for us and also donated the prints he used for park fundraising. He is a great example of someone from the community doing what they do best to help this project."
The latest fundraising effort mirrors the effort of the previous campaign to obtain the land. More than 1,000 donors contributed over six months. The $1.3 million raised went toward purchasing the land at 517 N. Lake Road from a developer that planned to put a condominium there. The neighboring property, 525 N. Lake Road, was donated to the city after being purchased for $600,000 by the Chuck and Pat Herro family.
Now, the leaders of the Rockwell Park project are hoping to raise a bit more.
"After reviewing a design by an engineering firm for the park, we know what it will take to fully realize the vision for what we'd like, and that's $1.5 million," Chris Both said. "We really think this is going to be the jewel of Oconomowoc."
Fundraising is well underway. Chris Both said that they have already raised $400,000, and there are even more verbal commitments.
In addition to the painting auction, selling naming rights will also be used for fundraising. As part of the current designs, Chris Both said plans for the park include restoring the shoreline, building two handicap-accessible kayak launches, a boardwalk below Peacock Dam, restrooms, walking paths, a "front porch" with swings, a shaded terrace garden and benches.
"We're off to a great start," he said. "We are actively soliciting donations for the park, and the plan is to have some of the grading done late this fall to get the work on the park started."
To bid on the painting, purchase a print or donate to the park fund, visit www.oconparksandtrails.org/.
Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Rockwell Park fundraising begins again in Oconomowoc
