May 20, 2021
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
COVID-19 Update 
SPPRF office staff is open for in person services: Tuesday – Friday 9:00am-2:00pm and available by phone at (608) 837-3449 Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, by email at rec@cityofsunprairie.com, or by appointment as needed.
We're Hiring!
Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation and Forestry is hiring for summer seasonal positions including: Lifeguard, Recreation Program Instructor, Recreation Program Assistant, and an LTE Office Assistant. To view current job openings and to apply, visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/SunPrairieWI..
Facility Rentals
Reserve your park facility for your private event today! Reservations are available for shelters, gazebos athletic fields and courts. Reservations are accepted up to one year in advance. Green spaces are available to rent free of charge! For a full list of available rentals and to submit a request online visit: Facility Rental Information - Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry (cityofsunprairie.com)
Wetmore Park Splashpad Project Update
The project includes the addition of a splashpad, changing facility, reconstruction of the park trails and parking lot, site utility improvements and the replacement of the playground.
The utility improvements, which included stormwater piping to address drainage and a new water service to the existing shelter, has been completed. Concrete work that includes new sidewalk access to the west shelter, a reconstruction of the existing trail, playground border, sidewalk access around the east shelter, and the splashpad deck has also been completed.
The next major project milestones will include the installation of the splashpad water features, then the installation of the new playground, followed by site restoration and the reconstruction of the parking lot.
A grand opening ceremony will be scheduled for the end of June. More details about the opening will be available in the coming weeks and can be found on the City’s website at www.cityofsunprairie.com
Mayors Monarch Pledge Update
Last week, Parks staff planted a pollinator demonstration garden at Vandenburg Heights Park. Staff will work on putting some interpretive signage out there that shares the importance of pollinator plants.
The Parks, Recreation and Forestry department have partnered with Sun Prairie Parks Friends, Inc. to install a pollinator garden at Wetmore Park this June, and will be installed prior to the opening of the splash pad. The garden will also fit with the garden theme of the splash pad! The proposal was approved at last week’s Parks Commission meeting.
As a member of the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, Sun Prairie is committed to creating habitats for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community.
Check It Out!
The Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum is now open! The Museum is open for the 2021 Season from through October 30.
Originally designed as a Public Library, established in 1927, this building was constructed on the land occupied by the original Bird family homestead. Now serving the community as the municipal Historical Museum, past uses of this building include City Offices, Village Council Chambers, the original site of the Colonial Club Senior Center, and for a short time served as a World War II Red Cross Center where volunteers rolled bandages and donated blood.
Admittance to the Museum is free and there is no charge for most Museum sponsored activities. Cash donations are accepted and always greatly appreciated. All donations will be used for preservation of the collection and educational programming.
Visitor hours are Wednesday - Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 115 East Main Street, Sun Prairie.
Parks Department Notice: Emerald Ash Borer Treatment to Begin in May!
The City of Sun Prairie’s Park, Recreation, and Forestry Department has contracted TruGreen to treat high quality prominent ash trees in the community for emerald ash borer (EAB). They will be starting another round of treatments later this month. For more information on the City’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan go here: Ash Trees & Emerald Ash Borer Information
Summer Registration is Now Open!
To view the full program guide or to register visit rec.cityofsunprairie.com
Sun Prairie Family Aquatic Center Opens June 19!
Swim lesson session 1 registration now open! Season passes on sale now! Purchase by 5/31 to save $5 and get a free keychain.
View the FAC guide, including information on swim lessons at rec.cityofsunprairie.com
Save the Date…
May 13 – Session 1 swim lesson registration and FAC season pass sales begins online for residents.
May 18 - Session 1 swim lesson registration and FAC season pass sales begins online for non-residents
Fitness Classes
Zumba Tuesdays – 6/1-8/3, 6:00 PM
NEW Pound Mondays – 6/2-8/4, 5:45 PM
Zumba Thursdays Outdoors – 6/3-8/5, 5:30 PM
P90X Outdoors Mondays – 6/7-8/16, 5:30 PM
Aqua Zumba Outdoor Session 1 Tuesdays/Thursdays – 6/22-7/15, 7:15 PM
Aqua Zumba Outdoor Session 2 Tuesdays/Thursdays – 7/2-8/12, 7:15 PM
Rec on the Go
May is a Mystery! – Basic Kit $7
May is a Mystery!– Deluxe Kit $17
Let us bring a recreation program to you, subscribe to our Rec on the Go kits! This month our bags will contain activities from the past, present and future. What they will be though will be a mystery…
WPRA Discount Tickets On Sale Now!
Tickets must be purchased in person and payment with cash or check only. 2.5% service fee, or a minimum of $1.95 applied to all credit card transactions. Office hours are Tuesday-Friday 9:00AM-2:00PM or by appointment call 608-837-3449.
Club Cardinal
Club Cardinal
A full day summer camp in partnership with the YMCA. To register visit https://www.ymcadane.org/child-care-camps/summer-camp
Moove Across Wisconsin
Virtual Challenge
6/1-6/30
Fee: $20
Kick-off National Dairy month with our Moove Across Wisconsin Fitness Challenge. Walk/Run/Bike your way "across" the width of Wisconsin (260 miles) during the month of June. You can participate as a team or as an individual and miles must be logged by 6/30. All participants will receive a Moove Across Wisconsin t-shirt.
**For more information or to register for these and other Recreation programs please visit the Recreation Department page at rec.cityofsunprairie.com Registration closes online one week prior to the start of class, to register after this date call 608-837-3449
Public Safety
National EMS Week
The 2021 National EMS Week theme is "THIS IS EMS: Caring for Our Communities", which echoes the mission statement of Sun Prairie EMS. This theme is particularly meaningful now, to remind people that every day we are still there to respond, support, and care for the needs of our communities. We remember all those who have lost their lives to the pandemic and we honor all the EMS providers and other public safety personnel, too, who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Paramedic profession is positioned at the intersection of health care, public health, and public safety, and a Paramedic is cross-trained in each of these areas. A Paramedic is a highly trained and skilled medical professional who is educated and trained to carry out some of the duties of a physician. Collaboratively, Paramedics work interdependently with emergency physicians to bring the highest level of medical care to patients outside of the hospital. The Paramedic role includes being knowledgeable in disaster planning, response readiness, scene management, and emergency vehicle operations. The modern Paramedic’s role also includes:
Healer
The Paramedic supports the patient, both physically and emotionally, through an illness or injury by showing compassion and providing comfort measures.
Researcher
Paramedics rely on an evidence-based approach to the practice of pre-hospital medicine, and participate in scientific research to collect and use data that drives strategies and techniques of EMS.
Teacher
Paramedics reduce injury and illness in their communities by educating the public on a one-to-one basis, or in formal public education programs.
We are grateful and appreciative of the work our Paramedics do and the Department would like to pay special recognition to the Paramedics of Sun Prairie EMS during National EMS Week 2021. We are very fortunate to have such a skilled group of professionals on our team. Please take a moment to remember the Sun Prairie Paramedics throughout this week.
Police Department 2020 Annual Report
The Sun Prairie Police Department 2020 Annual Report is ready and available to review. Take a look here to see the full report. Content includes:
- The Chief's Message
- Retirements and New Hires
- Awards and Anniversaries
- Staff Promotions and Transitions
- COVID-19
- Community Support
- Mental Health Response Team and School Liaison Officers
- Police Chief's Community Advisory Board
- Statistics
- And more...
Update to Coffee With A Cop!
You can stop and have coffee with a cop! This will be held at different locations throughout Sun Prairie. Community members interested in this opportunity to connect with officers can go to the Sun Prairie Police Department Facebook account and then follow the event page for updates. The next one will be Monday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Beans n Cream Bakehouse | 1120 West Main Street - Suite 2101, Sun Prairie, WI 53590.
The mission of Coffee With a Cop is to break down barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know officers in your neighborhood.
Changes in date and time may occur due to police-related circumstances. You can stay connected by following updates posted from Facebook and Twitter on the Sun Prairie Police Department's webpage. Just click here!
Sun Prairie Media Center
Graduation!
This year's ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 11, beginning at 5:30 PM. For the first time, the ceremony will be held at the new Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 12, at 10 AM, also at the Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field. Any weather-related decision will be made by the SPASD by the morning of June 11.
At the time of this writing, only two tickets were being allowed per graduate. For anyone unable to get into the ceremony, SPMC’s coverage will be seen live on KSUN Charter channel 983 or TDS channels 13 or 1013. The ceremony will also be streamed at sunprairiemediacenter.com/ksun as well as available on KSUN’s Roku and Apple TV channels and on the SPMC app, available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play.
In addition, the SPMC is offering DVD and USB copies of the graduation ceremony for sale. DVDs and USBs make great gifts for grads, family members, and anyone else wishing to relive this once-in-a-lifetime event! 2021 graduation DVDs & USBs can be ordered by going to sunprairiemediacenter.com/sphsgraduation.
Sponsorship opportunities for SPMC's coverage are currently available! Sponsors are recognized on every live and replay broadcast, every live stream and on demand airing viewed, and every DVD and USB sold. Interested businesses can sign up at sunprairiemediacenter.com/sphs-graduation-ceremony-sponsorship-form. For more information please contact Jeff Robbins at 837-4193 or at jrobbins@cityofsunprairie.com.
The SPMC is also currently planning to record the Prairie Phoenix Academy graduation ceremony happening on Thursday, June 10. That ceremony will not be aired live but will be broadcast later on KSUN and made available on demand at sunprairiemediacenter.com. DVDs and USBs for the PPA ceremony will also be made available for purchase.
103.5 FM Wins the Awards!
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association recently handed out their annual awards for broadcasting excellence and Sun Prairie’s own 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio scored with five awards.
Entering in the Large Market Radio category specializing in a music format, 103.5 F M was ironically awarded four awards for its non-musical programming.
Heading the list of winners was Dan Presser, whose “Sun Prairie In Focus” won First Place for Best Newscast. Though also produced for video, WBA voters decided that the audio version was strong enough on its own to be honored.
103.5 FM’s sole Second Place award winner – for Best Pandemic-Related Service to Community -- also went to a production originally produced for video, a series of public service announcements produced in collaboration with the Sun Prairie EMS Department and Healing Hearts Family Counseling regarding maintaining good mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elsewhere, 103.5 FM took home three Third Place showings in three very competitive categories: Best Morning Radio Show for Bill Baker’s “Good Morning Sun Prairie: Baker Street,” Mark Gonwa’s “Song Archaelogy” for Best Radio Show, and “Homeroom with Brad Saron” for Best Specialty Programming. “Homeroom” is hosted by Todd Milewski and produced in conjunction with the Sun Prairie Area School District.
Want to be part of this award-winning team? The Sun Prairie Media Center is currently looking for radio and podcast producers to take advantage of its awesome studio facilities and excellent staff. Anyone interested should call 608-837-4193, email SPMC director Jeff Robbins, or check out sunprairiemediacenter.com, where program ideas can be submitted directly to SPMC staff.
Episodes of 103.5 FM’s award-winning programs can be accessed for on-demand listening by downloading the Sun Prairie Media Center app, available for free from the App Store or Google Play.
Multicultural Fair Radio Reboot
You can tune in for the May Radio Reboot hosted by Sarah Milweski on 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio to learn more about Caribbean culture, history, and its rich diversity with Rachel Virnig, June Virnig, and John Delgado.
You'll be able to hear Rachel, June, and John share information about the Caribbean Association of Madison and the great work the organization is doing as well as how they all got involved.
How can you hear this interview? You can listen to it on 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio! The episode will be airing for the next couple of weeks on Saturdays at 4 PM. It is also available to listen to via the Sun Prairie Media Center app as well as right here.
Summer Workshops
Have no fear . . . there are still spots available in the Sun Prairie Media Center’s much-loved, often-imitated-but-never-duplicated summer workshops. But they are going fast!
If you know of someone aged 9-15 who loves to make videos, movies, or even podcasts and wants help taking their creativity to the next level, then you need to sign up for these workshops!
These week-long workshops are designed for budding journalists, filmmakers, actors, and social media influencers who want a fun and creative way to express themselves. Participants will be introduced to media production in a fun, hands-on learning environment that is conveniently located – the Media Center is in the same building as the public library!
These courses will inspire kids in a creative atmosphere to learn communication skills they can use for a lifetime. Nothing is impossible when you have a camera, an idea and a group of friends!
Online registration is open now and will remain open until June 18. But hurry – there are only a few spots available! Find more information on these classes and register online at kids4.tv.
- Adventures in Movie Making, Session 1, June 28-July 1.
- Adventures in Movie Making, Session 1, June 28-July 1.
- Adventures in Animation, July 12-15.
- Adventures in Sports Production, July 12-15.
- Hybrid, Adventures in Photography. July 19-22.
- Hybrid, Adventures in Reporting, July 19-22.
- Adventures in Podcasting and Vlogging, July 26-29.
- Adventures in Music Videos, July 26-29.
All workshops will meet at the Sun Prairie Media Center. Discounted rates for SPMC members are available. More information on memberships is available at sunprairiemediacenter.com. Scholarships are also available.
Questions? E-mail Mara at mtrusty@cityofsunprairie.com. See you at the Media Center this summer!
Sun Prairie Public Library
Hours and In-Person Services
Hours
M-F: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sun: 1-5 p.m.
In-Person Services
- Quick Browsing (30 minute limit for browsing & check out)
- In person reference service, technology assistance, readers’ advisory service, circulation service
- Additional computer stations (one hour limit for computers)
- Faxing, photocopying, printing, microfilm reader, wi-fi
- Self-check-out
- In-person holds pick up
- Linkcat stations for catalog searching
- Adult Services will accommodate magazine and newspaper requests
- Services by appointment: Resume writing assistance, Teleconferencing, Telehealth, Test Proctoring, Project Recovery Counseling. These services will take place in the Discussion Room and will be coordinated by Adult Services.
- Walk-up window (Circulation & Youth Services)
- Summer Library Program for Youth & Adults
- Outdoor programs
- Bus passes, ride share taxi booklets, recycle stickers
Masks and social distancing required. Occupancy limits will be in place. Time limits will be in place: 30 minutes for browsing and 1 hour for computer use. All PHMDC (Public Health Madison Dane County) recommendations and guidelines will be followed.
Our inside book sorter is currently closed for patron use. Please continue to use the drive-up book drops for all returns.
Drive-up and walk-up pickups are by appointment only. Reservations can be made at www.sunlib.org and click on "Schedule a curbside pickup". We will not be able to process unscheduled pickups, but scheduled pickups will be available throughout the day either at the drive-up window or the walk-up window. Please make sure to check "walk up" or "drive up" on the reservation form so staff can prepare items correctly. The window will not be staffed directly, and interaction must be done through the intercom.
Although pickups will be limited, the building is open from 9am - 6pm, Monday - Friday, as well as 9am - 1pm on Saturdays and 1pm - 5pm on Sundays for in-person hold pickup and self check-out. To limit close interaction between staff and patrons, all in-person pickups will be expected to make use of the self-checkout.
Children’s & Teen Services
Youth Programs will take a pause in May while we enter Phase II Reopening and prepare for Summer Programs.
Adult Services
Project Recovery workshop: I Am. I Have. I Want. Positive Perspectives and Goal Setting
Thursday, May 20th 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Are you ready to get back on track after a challenging and life-altering year? Join Community Action Coalition's Project Recovery counselors for this hour-long workshop that focuses on self-awareness and growth by discovering your roots, strengths, and goals. Through this interactive workshop, participants will creatively evaluate their comforts, establish their core values, and organize a plan to obtain their achievable goals. Participants will receive an electronic workbook for journaling activities during this workshop. This program will be held via Zoom, and is free and open to all adults. Please register here, and Zoom details will be emailed to you.
Urban SUN: Black Voices Book Club
Sunday, May 23rd 3-4 p.m.
A monthly book club devoted to creating meaningful conversations about race by exploring works of contemporary and historical African-American authors. Discussions are led by Sun Prairie residents, Donna Mackey and Marilyn Ruffin. Get ready to get uncomfortable and get real! May's book selection is “You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey” by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar. Copies will be available at the library, please call the Information Desk at 825-0702 to schedule a pick-up. The Urban SUN book club will meet via Zoom until further notice. Please register to attend the discussion here, and Zoom details will be emailed to you.
Project Recovery workshop: Connections and Reflections a Year Later
Wednesday, May 26th 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Need some help finding your way forward after a year of pandemic/lockdown/social isolation? Join Community Action Coalition's Project Recovery counselors for this hour-long workshop that focuses on personal reflection, self-care, and gratitude practices. During this interactive workshop, participants will use journaling as a method of reflection and mindfulness of research backed practices to improve mental, emotional, and physical health after a year living through the pandemic. Participants will receive an electronic workbook for journaling activities during this workshop. This program will be held via Zoom, and is free and open to all adults. Please register here, and Zoom details will be emailed to you, along with a link to the journaling workbook.
Quick with Sticks: UW Women's Hockey
Tuesday, June 1st 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Skate into the Adult Summer Reading Program! Join us for an evening with Jackie Crum, the Assistant Coach for the UW-Madison's winning women's hockey team. She'll discuss her many years as a champion player, first as a Badger and later as an international professional before returning to the US to become the team's Assistant Coach. Jackie has helped the Badgers to nine Frozen Fours and to capture the championship in 2011 and 2019. This program will be held via Zoom. Please register here to receive the Zoom log in information.
The Dream Bus is a library on wheels! Sign-up for a library card, return materials, and get free books, movies, wi-fi and more! Visit the table outside the Dream Bus, for touch-less browsing. On-board service will not be offered. Staff will be observing social distancing and wearing masks.
Mondays, 4-6 p.m.
C.H. Bird Elementary School
1st and 3rd Saturdays, May-August, 9-11 a.m.
Sun Prairie Farmers Market