Construction on Gruetzmacher Park is underway!
Follow along with the progress at: Friends of Readfield Park's Gruetzmacher Park progress page
Excitement is building as construction is underway at Gruetzmacher Park in the Town of Caledonia. This 47-acre park is situated on land generously donated by the Ivan and Jeanette Gruetzmacher Family, located at N2261 Bean City Road, New London WI 54961. Many trails are in place and available for use; however, please be mindful of on-going construction at the park.
The development of Gruetzmacher Park is a tremendous opportunity for the Town of Caledonia, as few towns boast facilities of this caliber. What makes this project truly remarkable is that Gruetzmacher Park will be built without any cost to local taxpayers. All funding for the park will come from grants and donations. The State of Wisconsin’s Knowles Stewardship Fund has provided a grant of $433,000 to help bring the park to life. Additionally, the Ivan and Jeanette Gruetzmacher Family has not only donated the land but is also establishing a trust fund to provide for park maintenance in perpetuity.
Thanks to these generous contributions, there will be no cost to Town residents for the land, the development of the park, or its ongoing upkeep. This project has truly exceeded all expectations!
Below is a proposed drawing of some of the park components to give you a glimpse of what’s in store! These are conceptual plans and the plans will continue to evolve through the planning process. The proposed site plan below is the long-range plan for the park. Not all of the components will be completed in the next two years.
UPCOMING PROJECTS (2025-2026)
- Playground (Summer 2026)
- Pavilion & Restrooms (Spring 2026)
- Sledding Hill (Summer 2026)
- Pickleball Courts (Fall 2026)
- Pedestrian Trails (Fall 2025, completed Summer 2026)
- Pump Track (Fall 2025) and Bicycle Skills Course (Spring 2026)
- Parking Areas (August 2026)
- Maintenance Garage (Fall 2025)
FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS
- Adult Fitness Equipment
- Splash Pad
- Disc Golf Course
- Additional courts: Pickleball, tennis, and basketball
- Tennis Courts
- Park-Wide Landscaping Improvements
COMPLETED
- Wetland Restoration
- Prairie Planting
Proposed pavilion:
Proposed playground:
Proposed Site Plan:
Thank you to the Gruetzmacher Family and everyone who has contributed towards making this park a valuable asset to our community!
Additional donations are needed to continue building Gruetzmacher Park. The following tiered donation level has been established for donations:
Founder's Circle ($100,000+)
Visionary Donors ($50,000 - $99,999)
Legacy Donors ($30,000 - $49,999)
Steward Donors ($10,000 - $29,999)
Advocate Donors ($1,000 - $9,999)
Friends of the Park (under $1,000)
Donations can be mailed to Town of Caledonia, PO Box 190, Readfield WI 54969 along with a completed Donations & Memorials form