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Waunakee board approves 'Woven Together in Waunakee' mural and peace pole at 710 South Street
Summary
The village approved a community-created mural project and the installation of a Peace Pole at the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection building at 710 South Street, funded in part by Rotary and featuring translations chosen with local partners including a Ho-Chunk translation.
The Village of Waunakee approved a public art project titled “Woven Together in Waunakee” and the placement of a Peace Pole at 710 South Street.
Kylie (last name not provided), a village staff member overseeing the project, said the site — the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection (WNC) — was cleaned and prepared for artwork: rotten retaining walls were replaced, a circular concrete slab installed for seating, and landscaping improved to make the area more welcoming for clients and community members.
“The picture you see up here is the work that’s been accomplished so far to kind of clean up the front of the WNC,” Kylie said, describing the cleanup and the intent to add a mural on the building’s white walls. The village ran a community survey this spring to collect input on symbols residents associate with Waunakee; the design shown to the board is by art teacher Renee Gavigan of Prairie Elementary School.
Renee Gavigan described the mural style as geometric and template-based to make it suitable for students and volunteers to help paint. “I typically create, in a more geometric type style, and we found that this would be a really good project, especially for our students and our community members,” Gavigan said. The project will include multiple community participation painting days scheduled at different times so a broad range of residents can join.
The village will also install a Peace Pole — a vertical post that bears the phrase “May peace prevail on earth” in up to eight languages — with the Rotary Club sponsoring the pole and placement costs. Kylie said the project team worked with the school district and WNC to select languages that represent the community and that the Ho-Chunk Nation provided a Ho-Chunk translation and approved its use on the pole.
Board members praised the school-village partnership and the participatory elements; no members raised objections. The board approved a motion to move forward with the mural design and Peace Pole placement, and the motion carried.
Kylie said the village is also exploring turning the front garden bed into a teaching garden the WNC or a volunteer group such as Scouts might help maintain. The village will power-wash and prime the walls before painting; some wall tops and rear-facing sections may remain solid color rather than painted for durability and seating considerations.
The project is funded from previously budgeted public art funds transferred to the nonprofit that manages prior mural efforts; Rotary is providing sponsorship for the Peace Pole.
The board approved the design and placement by voice vote; staff will schedule community painting sessions and coordinate installation details with the Rotary Club and the school district.
