July 15, 2021
Administration
Our Sponsors Rock!
Thank you to ALL of our sponsors! We did it! Thanks to your generosity, we have hit our sponsorship goal for this year's Multicultural Fair.
Our sponsors include:
-QBE
-Milwaukee Tools | Imperial Blades
-City of Sun Prairie Youth and Families Commission
-Sun Prairie Area School District
Event Details
Don't forget to save the date! The annual event will resume in-person.
The fair honors and celebrates the different cultures in Sun Prairie by bringing the community together for an experience of unique foods, performances, activities, and more.
The first annual event took place in 2019 out of the city’s desire to increase community programming that would bring Sun Prairie’s different identities together in celebration.
The City of Sun Prairie collaborated with community members, leaders, and other partnering agencies for planning and development of the event. It is estimated that about 1,000 individuals attended the 2019 fair throughout the day.
Planning for the 2021 event will continue for the next couple of months. The planning committee is still welcoming vendors, exhibitors, and performers. Interested individuals and organizations can contact Sandy Xiong at sxiong@cityofsunprairie.com
Event specifics include:
Date: Saturday, September 18
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Sheehan Park (925-1375 Linnerud Drive)
Check out the event Facebook page for regular updates!
Take the Survey!
What do our lakes mean to you? What are your water quality hopes and concerns ? Are there actions you're taking, or willing to take, to improve our waters?
Include your voice in the Yahara CLEAN Compact Community Survey. Your input will be used to inform the development of a community action plan to improve lake and water quality within the Yahara Watershed. Whether you live in an urban or rural area, on a lake or on a farm, or do not use the lakes at all, your input is essential!
Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GreaterMadisonLakes
Housing Needs Assessment
The City of Sun Prairie has embarked on a housing needs assessment, working with The Lakota Group, a Chicago-based urban planning and design firm, alongside SB Friedman Development Advisors, a Market and Housing Consulting firm.
The Community Development Authority (CDA) as well as a housing advisory committee will facilitate the Sun Prairie Housing for All assessment. This housing study will provide City staff, elected officials, key stakeholders, and the community a better understanding of the housing market, housing challenges, and current and future unmet needs. The result of this process will focus on strategies that will provide a pathway to address housing challenges and ensure the City of Sun Prairie is taking advantage of opportunities to support housing development at a range of price points and across different housing options. This study will consider ways to manage change and balance community needs, while embracing Sun Prairie’s history and heritage.
As Sun Prairie’s diversity continues to grow, it is necessary to learn about what types of housing best suit the unique needs of different communities. “Addressing the housing needs can only be achieved by listening to all voices in the community and integrating their input,” said Mayor Esser. “We want to serve all community members who currently reside here and those who will one day call Sun Prairie their home.” Intentional engagement will be key in successfully conducting this assessment.
This planning process builds on Sun Prairie’s community pride and celebrates the history and traditions of the City. Since May, the planning team has engaged a number of stakeholders through focus group discussions as well as touring the neighborhoods and engaging with community members on the ground. The team has compiled an existing conditions report that illustrates the current housing situation in Sun Prairie, which has been uploaded to the project website, along with a recording of the most recent CDA meeting.
Different ways to follow the planning process include visiting the project website www.SunPrairieHousingforAll.com and signing up for regular email updates as well as checking the City’s Facebook page for updates posted there. An online survey and community workshops are scheduled to occur between July and August to continue in engagement with the Sun Prairie community in this planning effort.
Streets of Sun Prairie events! 
The Sun Prairie Business Improvement District is pleased to announce this summer’s Streets of Sun Prairie line-up of Thursday night events taking place in Downtown Sun Prairie:
- August 12, 5:00-8:00PM: Classic Cars and Bluegrass Music on Market Street and Cannery Square, 1 Cannery Square and the corner of Market Street and Main Street
- Road Apples Car Club will be on hand to show off a variety of classic cars. Come on down to chat with the owners about their passion for these amazing automobiles! Please visit https://www.road-apples.org/ for more information.
- Kodey Feiner of the Soggy Prairie band, and Marta Hansen of The Piano Gal Shop, will entertain with bluegrass music!
- Funny Faces Family Entertainment will be on-hand with balloon sculpting.
- Stop by the Explore Children’s Museum pop-up table to say hi!
The Streets of Sun Prairie event series is sponsored in part by the Bank of Sun Prairie.
The Streets of Sun Prairie event series is designed to offer a variety of entertainment and engaging activities throughout Downtown Sun Prairie that hopefully appeals to a wide range of people. We hope that residents and visitors explore Downtown Sun Prairie before and after all of the events.
Follow us on Facebook at Downtown Sun Prairie for more event details! www.facebook.com/downtownsunprairie
Downtown Sun Prairie… we’re having fun down here!
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Recreation Department
SPPRF office is now open: Monday – Friday 8:00am-4:30pm 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.
Reserve your park facility for your private event today! Reservations are available for shelters, gazebos athletic fields and courts and accepted up to one year in advance. Reserve now for your 2022 graduation parties and family reunions. 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)
Sun Prairie Historical Museum is now Open!
Wednesday – Saturday, 11am-4pm
115 East Main St, Sun Prairie
Summer Registration is now Open!
To view the full program guide or to register visit rec.cityofsunprairie.com
City of Fun Prairie!
Did you hear the news?! The Mayor has changed the name of the City of Sun Prairie to the City of FUN Prairie for the month of July in honor of Parks and Recreation Month! SPPRF, in partnership with a number of local businesses and community organizations, are putting together some exciting things to highlight all of the local fun to be had in our community! Stay tuned over the next several weeks for more information and what living in the City of FUN Prairie means for residents!
See below for the Fun Prairie Bingo Card.
This item is a great way to see some of the activities, promotions, deals, and more going on in the local area. Check out these locations to get a bingo card:
- Bank of Sun Prairie (228 East Main Street)
- Bank of Sun Prairie (550 Broadway Drive)
- Bank of Sun Prairie (695 S. Grand Avenue)
- City of Sun Prairie Family Aquatic Center (920 Linnerud Drive)
- City of Sun Prairie Historical Museum (115 East Main Street)
- City of Sun Prairie Media Center (1350 Linnerud Drive, Suite 2)
- City of Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department (2598 West Main Street)
- City of Sun Prairie Public Library (1350 Linnerud Drive)
- Eddie's Alehouse & Eatery (238 East Main Street)
- JJ's Boxing & Wrestling (1323 W. Main Street)
- Orange Theory Fitness Sun Prairie (1261 Cabela Drive)
- Prairie Grove Orthodontics (2408 Montana Avenue)
- Prairie Kids Club (352 Wilburn Road)
- Prairie Music & Arts (798 Lois Drive)
- Sun Prairie Farmer's Market (1 Cannery Square)
- Sun Prairie YMCA (1470 Don Simon Drive)
Sun Prairie Family Aquatic Center
The pool is now open! Still time to purchase your season passes at rec.cityofsunprairie.com or stop in our office M-F 8:00am-4:30pm. Questions? Give us a call 608-837-3449
Session 2 of Tuesday/Thursday Swim Lessons Registration Begins July 16 at 9:00 AM Register at: rec.cityofsunprairie.com!
Click here for a full list of swimming lessons.
WPRA Discount Tickets On Sale Now!
Tickets must be purchased in person and payment with cash or card 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.
Tuesday Night Tunes!
Come and enjoy Tuesday Night Tunes at Wetmore Park (555 North Street).
Marvel Trivia Night, July 18, 3-5pm
Join us for Trivia at Sheehan Park on the central athletic field. Bring your own chair or blanket, and Marvel knowledge…we will provide the rest! Great family fun activity for all ages. Visit our Facebook event page for more info.
Preschoolers in the Park – Pirates on the Playground, Ages 3-4
July 29, 6:30-7:15 PM
Ahoy, Mateys! Are ye a pirate looking for an adventure? Come and join us as we enjoy pirate-themed crafts, hunt for buried treasure and race pirate ships!
Rec on the Go – Recommended for Ages 5-14
August, Road Trip! – Basic Kit $7
August, Road Trip!– Deluxe Kit $17
We are hitting the road in August for a fun trip around the world. Activities will include crafts, recipes and a passport you can stamp as you travel through our kits. Non-residents must use curbside pick-up. Pick up and delivery will be available the week of August 23rd. Participants will be emailed when kits are ready so make sure your email address is up to date.
Bedtime Buddies – Ages 2-4
August, I Love You Baby Shark Kit
Bedtime Buddies is designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Each kit will include a stuffed animal kit, book and snack. Each month there will be a different book and matching stuffed animal. Non-residents must pickup - No delivery available. Please make sure your email address is up to date as that is the way you will be contacted about pickup/delivery.
**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 Night Out Comes to Sun Prairie’s Cannery Square!
The City of Sun Prairie will once again host its National Night Out celebration on Thursday, August 5, 2021, from 5–8 pm in Downtown Sun Prairie in Cannery Square (across Main Street from City Hall at 300 E. Main St.).
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work. This event enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Attendees are encouraged and invited to interact directly with one another and city employees. Furthermore, it provides an excellent opportunity to bring city services and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
This year’s event will once again feature staff, vehicles, and equipment from a wide array of public safety agencies, including:
• Sun Prairie Police Department
• Sun Prairie EMS
• Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department
• Sun Prairie Public Works Department
• Sun Prairie Wastewater Department
• Sun Prairie Media Center
• Sun Prairie Library
• Sun Prairie Parks and Recreation Department
• Dane County Sheriff’s Office
• …and more!
For more information on other police outreach events being held in the future, please go to https://www.cityofsunprairie.com/713/News-Data and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sunprairiepd/) and Twitter (@sunprairiepd).
Sun Prairie EMS Awarded $200,000 Grant for EMS Outreach Program
The City of Sun Prairie’s Emergency Medical Services Department has been awarded a $200,000 CDBG-CV grant to assist with the community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this grant, the paramedics at Sun Prairie EMS will be able to provide residents with free in-home medical support for all manner of issues related to the pandemic. This grant provides opportunity for people:
- Recovering from COVID-19 at home
- Experiencing trouble accessing healthcare
- Fearful of going to the doctor
- Having financial difficulties and pressures
- Living in compact housing with other people
- Concerned about vaccinations
Paramedics will provide free in-home visits to monitor health, assist with prescribed treatment regimens, and provide education about prevention/mitigation strategies to help reduce the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 in the community. All program participants will receive free pulse-oximetry devices and touchless thermometers. Additionally, paramedics will distribute free medication lockboxes as well as free medication disposal kits from our partners at Public Health Madison and Dane County.
For more detailed information, please click here. If wanting to make a referral, or to inquire about participating in the EMS Outreach program yourself, please contact Sun Prairie EMS via email at EMS@cityofsunprairie.com, or call us at 608-837-3604.
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 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. The next sessions will be:
- Monday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Grace Coffee | 1261 Cabela Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53590
- Monday, August 30 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Beans n Cream Coffeehouse| 345 Cannery Square, Sun Prairie, WI 53590.
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 Historical Library and Museum
Fun Prairie Historical Scavenger Race
This Scavenger Race, designed for teams of two adults, takes contestants to multiple Sun Prairie locations where they solve puzzles and complete tasks as quickly as possible. The first place winning team takes home $1,000, while second place wins $500 and third place wins $250.
A socially distant game, conceived during the COVID-19 lockdown, utilizes QR Codes to start an activity clock and photos of completed tasks to end an activity time. By timing only the activities, contestants have no need to speed down Main Street and instead, it gives them an opportunity to stop in for lunch or check out a shop they have never been to.
100 tickets will go on sale Tuesday, July 6 at www.cityofsunprairie.com/museumrace. Entry fee for a team of two adults costs $80 and a phone with the ability to send photos and videos is required to play. All proceeds go to the Sun Prairie Water Tower Historic Preservation Fund to help repair the historic landmark, built in 1899.
NOTE: This event is part of the “Fun Prairie” marketing campaign celebrating the National Parks & Recreation Month. Sun Prairie Mayor, Paul Esser, made a proclamation at last week’s City Council meeting to change the name of Sun Prairie to “Fun Prairie” for the month of July.
Event Info:
Location: Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum | 115 East Main Street, Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Event Category: Community, Fundraiser, Event
Website: www.cityofsunprairie.com/museumrace
Phone: 608-825-0837
Contact: Jennifer Harper, Museum Director | museum@cityofsunprairie.com
Date & Time: Saturday, July 31, 2021 (10am-6pm)
Sun Prairie Media Center
Multicultural Fair Radio Reboot
Did you miss our latest edition of the Multicultural Fair Radio Reboot on 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio? You can re-listen to our interview with Terry Tao (featured in the photo below) and Miao Zhang from MACCO, the Madison Area Chinse Community Organization today online here.
Tune in to our next episode airing on Saturday, July 17 at 4 PM with Tara Wilhelmi. Tara is a Certified Peer Specialist and leads EOTO Culturally Rooted, a local grassroots community recovery and wellness organization.
Listeners can tune in to the interview with Tara, conducted by Sara Milewski via the Sun Prairie Media Center app as well as online at: https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/WLSP.
How Sun Prairie became FUN Prairie!
Check it out here to see Kristin Grissom, Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director be interviewed by Wyatt from KIDS-4 about the City of Fun Prairie and how it all came together. Additionally, you can see Wyatt interview Mayor Esser and Aaron Oppenheimer, City Administrator. View other interviews here.
"Get Back" to Tuesday Night Tunes at Wetmore Park
Tuesday Night Tunes returns to the newly-renovated and improved Wetmore Park in 2021 with a full summer of great music.
Kicking off the summer schedule on July 13 is a concert sponsored by the Friends of the Sun Prairie Media Center, which is also serving as a sixth anniversary celebration of the launch of 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio, Sun Prairie’s community radio station.
Playing at the concert will be Madison Mystery Tour, a Beatles tribute band that specializes in accurate live renditions of the entire Beatles recorded catalog. Active since 2012, Madison Mystery Tour has performed sold-out concerts at major venues and festivals. The July 13 concert is set to begin at 6 PM at Wetmore Park on 555 North Street in Sun Prairie.
“I’m thrilled that our Friends group is sponsoring such a fantastic group to launch the Tuesday Night Tunes series and to celebrate the radio station’s anniversary,” said SPMC director Jeff Robbins. “It’s a great year for Beatles fans. Not only have solo albums by George Harrison and John Lennon seen super deluxe re-issues this year, but the highly-anticipated Peter Jackson ‘Let It Be/Get Back’ reimagining and accompanying box set are due later this year, which is the biggest Beatles project in over 25 years.”
In addition to the music, the Sun Prairie Lions Club will host a beer tent, and food and other beverages will be available for purchase from Texas Roadhouse, Sassy Cow Creamery, and others.
There is also scheduled to be a 50-50 raffle to benefit the Friends of the Sun Prairie Media Center as well as a staffed booth with more information on the Sun Prairie Media Center.
For more information about the Sun Prairie Media Center or how to become a member producer, please check out sunprairiemediacenter.com or e-mail Jeff Robbins at jrobbins@cityofsunprairie.com.
The Parenting Game
The Sun Prairie Media Center is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Christine Bright, founder of the Parenting Game, in a new series of programs imaginatively titled “The Parenting Game.” The 30-minute programs air on KSUN (among other times) at 1 PM and 10 PM Wednesdays and on 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio at 8 AM Fridays.
The program is for any person desiring to foster a healthy relationship with a child and aims to provide information, resources, and actionable strategies. Guests on “The Parenting Game” will share stories from their parenting journey and host Bright will help them share their wins and fails, recognizing that perfect parenting does not exist.
“I have had the pleasure of working with differently abled children since I was in high school. I was drawn to children that were the ‘naughty ones.’ It seemed I had a natural knack for being able to handle their behaviors," said Bright. “My passion for helping children guided me to become a therapeutic foster parent which gave me invaluable training I still use. Working one-on-one with a child that had challenging behaviors brought me unspeakable joy. A deeper passion was ignited within me.”
Bright is now a child care professional and family advocate for children with mild to severe behavioral issues, having trained with Dr. Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child. She works to help families navigate all the challenges that are a natural facet of parenting, teaching her clients fundamentals, skills, and actionable strategies that result in more positive interactions with their children.
Bright says that doing “The Parenting Game” program with the Sun Prairie Media Center will allow her to share the strategies she has developed with larger audiences as an advisor and speaker.
For more information on Christine Bright and The Parenting Game, go to parentinggamewins.com.
“The Parenting Game,” as with all SPMC video programming, is available on KSUN at Charter Spectrum channel 983, TDS channels 13 and 1013, or to stream at sunprairiemediacenter.com and on the Sun Prairie Media Center app. On-demand programming is available on the website, app, and on the SPMC’s Roku and Apple TV channels. The podcast version is also available on the SPMC app.
For more information about the SPMC or how to become a member producer, please e-mail Jeff Robbins at jrobbins@cityofsunprairie.com.
Sun Prairie Public Library
Hours
Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Children’s & Teen Services
Storytime
Join us for Small Fry Storytime on Mondays at 10:00 in the SPPL Storytime Facebook Group or on the SPPL YouTube Channel, and Storytime on Tuesdays at 10:30 in the SPPL Storytime Facebook Group or on the SPPL YouTube Channel. Keep an eye out for Pop-Up Outdoor Family Storytimes as well. Visit https://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/storytimeinfo for up-to-date info.
Level Up this summer with the Summer Reading Program! Earn digital badges as well as cool prizes like a pass to the Dane County Fair, a pass to the Milwaukee Public Museum, a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza, a farm pass, a prize book, the all-new 2021 Library Champion sign and more! Also, you'll get something special just for signing up! The Summer Reading Program is for ALL ages -- whether you are being read to, just learning to read, or reading advanced teen materials...we have a program for you! Registration began June 1 on Beanstack and the program runs until August 22! For more information, visit our Summer Reading program page here: https://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/summer-reading-program
Friday, July 16th 12:30-1:30pm
Sammy wants to play Among Us and maybe some Jackbox games! Game with Sammy on Zoom on select Fridays at 12:30 PM. Registration required for each session and space is limited. This program is for those who are 7-12 years old.
Tuesday, July 20th or Wednesday, July 21st from 12-4pm
This is a walk through program. Doors open at noon and close at 4:00 PM. The animals are done visiting at 4:00 PM. Visit the Zoozort animals and ask questions! This event will take place in the community room. You'll enter through the community room door and exit through the lobby.
Family Adventure Day - On Zoom
Thursday, July 22nd at 2pm or 4pm
Geared for kids in grades K-5. This program requires you to pick up a supply bag that will include materials for the projects! Sammy will then walk everyone through how to make the project while on Zoom.
Thursday, July 29th from 2-4pm
Join Melissa on Zoom for Creativity Club! Supplies will be provided ahead of time, via window pick-up. Registration is required for each date. Email Melissa at mcarollo@sunlib.org to register. This program is for teens in 6th - 12th grade.
Adult Services
Announcing the Adult Summer Reading Program! Our theme this summer is Read With Friends, and we also encourage you to join us for our first ever Big Summer Read, “We Ride Upon Sticks” by Madison author Quan Barry. Registration is available now on Beanstack.
Thursday, July 15th 6:30-7:15pm
Do you want to know more about the prairie that surrounds the Sun Prairie Library? Join Joe Chase, local naturalist, on a 'Walk-and-Talk Tour' of the prairie and learn more about the prairie plants, and the birds and insects that inhabit this environment. All ages are welcome! Please be aware that the terrain is not always level, so we encourage you to wear appropriate walking or hiking shoes. To join the tour, please meet us at the top of the prairie, near the library's drive-thru pickup window. Tour starts promptly at 6:30. In case of inclement weather, please check here page for tour update.
Urban SUN: Black Voices Book Club
Sunday, July 25th from 3-4pm
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! This month's book selection is So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo. Copies will be available at the library's Information Desk for those who register. Ebook and audio formats are also available from Overdrive/Libby. 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.
Dream Bus Bookmobile
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! Staff will have masks available.
Mondays, 4-6 p.m.
C.H. Bird Elementary School
1st and 3rd Saturdays, May-August, 9-11 a.m.
Sun Prairie Farmers Market
For more information on the Dream Bus, and the Summer Special Events schedule, visit https://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/dream-bus