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Elkhorn middle school students propose picnic-table build for Veterans Park; committee gives approval to proceed
Summary
Sixth-grade students from Elkhorn Area Middle School presented a fundraising and build plan to construct picnic tables for Veterans Park; the park committee gave a motion to proceed pending departmental approval and discussed maintenance and memorial plaque rules.
Elkhorn Area Middle School sixth graders presented a plan Monday to build and donate picnic tables for Veterans Park in Elkhorn, and the Walworth County Park Committee voted to allow staff to proceed with the project pending department approval and compliance with county policy on memorials.
Student presenters described a hands‑on curriculum partnership with Wausau Homes Elkhorn and said the project offers skill-building and community benefit. ‘‘We are here to tell you about the special project we—een working on with Wausau Homes Elkhorn,’’ said Brooklyn Longenecker. Students explained fundraising plans that would let families buy tables and offer opportunities to donate a table in honor or memory of a veteran; donated tables would include a memorial marker.
Parks staff and committee members discussed materials and maintenance. A student representative said material costs last year were about $160 per table using pressure-treated lumber and that the students aimed to sell tables around $250. Staff recommended reviewing county memorialization policy before finalizing plaque plans. One county official said plaques and memorial elements are governed by county ordinance and that larger-value donations may require additional approvals.
Wausau Homes representatives spoke in support of the program and described a multi-year partnership with the school to teach construction skills. A parent and local businessperson, Ben Longenecker, told the committee he would personally support the project.
A motion to move forward with the picnic‑table program with departmental approval and within county policy passed by voice vote.
Staff said they will provide the committee the county policy on donations and memorial displays and coordinate placement, quantity and maintenance offline with the school.
