KAUKAUNA — An ambitious plan to remake the Grignon Mansion’s sledding hill, known for generations as Mount Misery, is nearing the halfway mark of its $1.5 million goal and the Kaukauna High School Civic Engagement Class is spearheading the fundraising effort.
The group currently has raised $650,000 for the project through sponsorship from local businesses and civic groups.
Civic Engagement recently launched a Facebook group and will launch a GoFundMe page to help reach the community, according to a post by student Oriana Geitner.
Updates are being shared on the project’s website HERE. Information on sponsorship opportunities are for questions, email kaukaunahscivicengagement@gmail.com.
At the heart of the project is a building that will serve as a warming shelter/ice skate rental/snow tube rental during the winter months, a facility for Electric City Soccer to hold tournaments and youth events during the summer, an opportunity for the Grignon Mansion to hold events and educational opportunities throughout the year.
Additionally, the project will include an ice skating rink and tow rope that will be available for use from mid-November to early March.
The rink will have a chiller to ensure quality ice for families to enjoy and engage in a wonderful winter outdoor activity.
The tow rope will provide families with a wonderful opportunity to tube and have a quick ride back to the top of what we consider one of the best tubing hills in Wisconsin.
The vision is that families from throughout the Fox Cities, as well as visitors to the area, will come to Kaukauna and take advantage of this fun-filled family-centered opportunity. Organizers believe this will be a popular destination location for families during the winter because, at present there is no other facility like this in Wisconsin.
The project could serve thousands of families each year.
It will provide an unbelievable public relations opportunity for the Grignon Mansion to sponsor events potentially bringing more attention to the history of Kaukauna and the Fox Cities as well as providing the Grignon Mansion the space necessary to serve more school groups for educational purposes, according to the group’s website.
Throughout the summer children will utilize the facility for various soccer events, frisbee golf tournaments, and flag football competitions that are run through the city.
The Civic Engagement class is extremely confident this project will provide both continuous enjoyment to numerous families, and multiple benefits for the school district, the Fox Cities, and the Grignon Mansion.
