A fountain with lights that change colors has been added to the center of the pond at Mielke Park.
The fountain was paid for by the Mielke Family Foundation, which continues to invest in the park.
Earlier this year, a pair of local residents proposed privatizing the park, but that proposal was denied when officials discovered the land must either remain as a park or be returned to the Mielke family.
Shawano County officials have since been talking more with the family and debating whether to renew the lease for the Mielke Arts Center with the Shawano County Arts Council.
“After our discussion with the Mielke family and foundation, I think your lease is fine. I don’t have any concerns with the lease,” Jim Davel, the county administrative coordinator, told the public property committee June 12. “What I would recommend is we get that back to Tom Martel (with the corporation counsel’s office). The next meeting, we can come, make sure you sign it, and we’ll get it to the Mielke Foundation for their signature.”
Davel said the family wants to make donations for more projects at the park to help increase its usage by residents.
“They are looking at some other projects,” Davel said. “We have better communication with them right now in terms of what they want. What we learned is we need to deal with the foundation and the family, and not the arts council.”
More and improved walking trails are among the additional amenities.
“They’re trying to get some other larger donations,” Davel said. “They would like to do some landscaping projects, etc.”
The 32-acre county park is located on Airport Road and Lake Drive on Shawano’s east side.
The Mielke Family Foundation was established in 1963 by Dr. Edward F. Mielke and his wife, Beulah (Bee), together with sisters Ruth and Sarah Mielke. A native of Shawano, Edward Mielke practiced medicine in Appleton for 60 years. Ruth Mielke presided over the library at Appleton West High School for 40 years, and Sarah Mielke taught advanced mathematics at Shawano High School.
The Mielke Park land was donated to Shawano County in 1971 by Edward Mielke. The Mielke Family Foundation donated funds to build the Mielke Arts Center, a 250-seat black-box theater in the center of the park, with groundbreaking in 1975.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Fountain installed in Mielke Park pond
