Blanchardville Swimming Pond
Making Waves in Blanchardville
One thing Wisconsinites know well is the value of community. Residents come together to support local projects that improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit their towns.
When the community pool in Blanchardville needed significant repairs, village leaders faced a difficult decision: the estimated cost of replacing the aging facility was between $1.8 and $2.4 million, which was well beyond what the community could reasonably afford. So, village leaders and residents began exploring more affordable alternatives. That search led to the idea of creating a natural swimming pond at McKellar Park. However, making that vision a reality required strong community support. A group of individuals started fundraising efforts through the nonprofit organization, Friends of McKellar Park, Inc., along with local volunteers who organized fundraising efforts that generated approximately $700,000 for the recreational swimming pond. The project also benefited from the generosity of numerous local contractors, excavators, businesses, and community members who donated materials, equipment, labor, and countless hours of their time to assist with excavation and grading activities.
While community support helped move the project forward, designing the pond came with its own set of challenges. The proposed location had limited available space and was surrounded by several constraints, including batting cages, multiple ball fields, neighboring private properties, and nearby hillside terrain. GEC’s civil engineering team worked closely with project stakeholders to maximize the pond’s size and depth while fitting within the available space and preserving surrounding park amenities.
Another important design consideration was floodplain management. Because the site is located near the Pecatonica River, the pond could not simply be excavated deeper into the ground. Instead, the pond was designed and constructed upward, allowing the project to meet floodplain requirements while still providing an attractive and functional recreational feature for the community.
One advantage of the project was the permitting process for the pond. Since it is less than one acre in size, Wisconsin DNR permits were not required. The project primarily involved obtaining village approvals and preparing the necessary engineering and construction plans.
Throughout the design and construction process, GEC collaborated closely with Wisconsin Lake & Pond. Their expertise in recreational pond design, liner installation, and guidance on pond construction proved invaluable. The liner is one of the most important and costly components of any swimming pond, and proper installation is critical to long-term performance. Once installed, the liner was protected with carefully selected materials, including sand, riprap, and other natural coverings designed to improve durability while maintaining a natural appearance.
Today, the completed pond spans approximately one-quarter acre and reaches a maximum depth of about 10 feet. The swimming area includes a shallow play zone that transitions into a beach area, a deeper-water section for floating features, and surrounding open spaces for picnic tables and community gatherings.
What makes this project especially unique is that it is more than just a swimming pond. The pond was intentionally designed to support a natural aquatic ecosystem, with aquatic animals and vegetation playing an important role in maintaining pond health and water quality. These natural elements help support the pond’s ecosystem and create a healthier environment for the water and surrounding habitat. Unlike a traditional swimming pool, the pond provides a recreational swimming experience that works with nature rather than relying on the chlorine and chemicals typically associated with pool facilities.
A dedicated community can achieve anything, and the Blanchardville swimming pond shows that beautifully! Fundraising, volunteer efforts, partnerships, and mindful engineering are a few items that helped transform a community vision into a unique recreational destination that will serve residents and visitors for generations to come.
