Klipstine Park unveils new bandshell stage

On Wednesday, June 17, Ashwaubenon’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry department hosted a ribbon cutting and stage dedication ceremony for a new bandshell stage at Klipstine Park.

The new stage will host summer concerts through Ashwaubenon’s Concert in the Park series, which is entering its 21st season, as well as a variety of other programming.

According to Ashwaubenon village president Mary Kardoskee, the project has been in the works for years, having faced several budgeting setbacks.

“This has been a long time coming,” Kardoskee said. “Many years ago, when we did our referendum projects, the bandshell was in the plan, and it got axed out in value engineering because it went over the budget.”

The project was finally completed thanks to the donations of three families — Ken and Marge Bukowski, the Appleton family and Dick Happel and family.

Kardoskee emphasized that the bandshell would not be possible without the help of the benefactors.

“It was fully funded and donated by those community members,” Kardoskee said. “That’s what makes Ashwaubenon so special. I always say it’s an honor and a privilege to represent Ashwaubenon wherever I go through the state, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Kardoskee also noted a special design detail in the bandshell — the notes carved at the top of the stage facade sound out a lyric from the national anthem.

“If you know what the notes up there say, thank your music teacher,” Kardoskee said. “If you don’t know what they say, it’s ‘we’re the land of the free and the home of the brave.’”
Next, benefactor Ken Bukowski spoke, thanking the other donors, staff members, the construction crew that worked on the bandshell and the Ashwaubenon Village Board.

“Working with them in the village is wonderful,” Bukowski said. “There’s going to be a resolution at the next Village Board Meeting which will transfer the ownership of this facility … It will be under the village’s care. I know they’ve been working hard on that already.”
Further improvements to Klipstine Park, including a shade structure, will be made possible through a Vibrant Spaces Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
“We are so thankful and so grateful that this is a legacy facility piece that will be in use for generations — hopefully concerts for the next 50 years and whatever else we’ll have here,” said Rex Mehlberg, Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry for the Village of Ashwaubenon.

Following the ribbon cutting and dedication, Klipstine Park hosted a celebratory concert with performances from the Daddy D Productions contingent.

Upcoming concerts at Klipstine Park include “Bay Area Big Band” on June 30 at 6 p.m., “Rocker!” on July 8 at 11:30 a.m. and “Let Me Be Frank Productions” on July 15 at 11:30 a.m.