Random Lake ‘will sculpt the future’ with new Community Enhancement Fund, boosted by $1M donation

Sam Bailey, Sheboygan Press
·2 min read
FILE - Downtown Random Lake, Wis. as seen Tuesday, October 23, 2018, in Random Lake, Wis.
FILE - Downtown Random Lake, Wis. as seen Tuesday, October 23, 2018, in Random Lake, Wis.

SHEBOYGAN — An anonymous $1 million donation will allow for the creation of the Village of Random Lake Community Enhancement Fund.

The fund, created earlier this year, is a program to add and enhance local community amenities, public destinations and support community growth and beautification, according to a Sheboygan County news release.

The program may allow funding to begin implementing community projects otherwise “placed on a shelf” because of budget constraints, Michael San Felippo, Random Lake village president, said in the release.

“Through these amazing donations, the village and its residents have a prime opportunity to create a unified vision for our community growth and amenities,” he said.

The anonymous donor approached the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation Foundation about creating the fund for the Random Lakes area through a public-private partnership after hearing about the program, the news release said.

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SCEDCF is excited and looking forward to funding projects that “enhance the vibrancy and livability of Random Lake,” said Don Hammond, board chairman of SCEDCF, in the release.

A Master Plan for the village is also being implemented through additional donations to SCEDCF. GRAEF, an engineering and design firm from Milwaukee, was selected to provide “master planning services,” the release said.

Throughout the next nine months, GRAEF will conduct meetings with community members and elected officials to create a presentation expected to be given to the Village Board in May.

Craig Huebner, practice team leader/planning + urban design at GRAEF, said the company is excited to work with the village.

“Together, we will sculpt the future, envisioning vibrant landscapes for downtown, the lakefront, and the Highway 57 corridor,” he said.

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Proposals for the fund will be sought starting in May 2024 and future applications will be accepted quarterly.

Community Enhancement Fund accounts will be established for all communities in Sheboygan County, the release said, but an initial donation of $500,000 is required for an account to be created for a specific community.

Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Sam Bailey at sgbailey@gannett.com or 573-256-9937. To stay up to date on her stories and other news, follow her on X (Twitter) @SamarahBailey.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Anonymous donation created Village of Random Lake enhancement fund