About Across The Pond Veterans Park
Twenty-three Beautiful Acres for People to Enjoy and Honor Our Veterans
Picture the BEAUTY! Imagine the stars overhead or the sun beating across the water! Listen for the sound of the loon or fish jumping along the shoreline. Smell the pine trees and the flowers on the forest floor, and see the campers, the RVs, the picnickers, the families, the groups, the fun and the activities - all part of Across The Pond Veterans Park (ATP)!!
Yes, the focus of ATP is our American Veterans; all service branches, all ages, all interests and all backgrounds. All people are welcome to come support, enjoy and build friendships with the Veterans who have priority use of the Park and its facilities.
The Across The Pond Veterans Park is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit corporation being operated for educational, charitable, and recreational purposes. More specifically, the intent of the park is to honor American Veterans, to increase public awareness of the sacrifices and current needs of our Veterans, and to provide open-to-the public recreational opportunities in an environment that honors our Veterans.
The park is located just west of Iron River, Wisconsin, on the south side of US HWY 2, on a 22.5 acre parcel the organization was able to acquire from Bayfield County. Official groundbreaking for the park took place in May of 2018.
In accordance with the initial five-year plan, necessary clearing and excavation projects have been completed. The construction of a beautiful memorial area incorporating a massive flag display and Veterans honor wall is presently the main focal point of the park. Initial paving and curb installment are complete, walking trails are in place, and recently a memorial area dedicated to Vietnam Veterans was also established.
Most recently, in the spring of 2024, the Wisconsin National Guard completed excavation work which resulted in a significant step towards completion of environmental permitting requirements, and also helped the Unit satisfy their annual training requirements.
The effort is being entirely funded through private donations and grants. A great amount of work completed to date has been made possible by volunteers. This includes planning, logging off the property, excavation, mowing, maintaining, fundraising, as well as all general upkeep.
In accordance with the current five-year plan, the next phase includes construction of a welcome center which will include restrooms and shower facilities, and the establishment of 16 full hook-up RV sites and 15 rustic camping sites.
The organization is very grateful for the amount of support it has received to date, which has been ample. There is much work to be done. New volunteers, and donations, are always welcome
Join Us. Make this Park Happen.
Phase One
![flags flags](https://acrossthepondpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/flags-1.jpg)
"A Beautiful Setting to Respect and Reflect"
What Happened in Phase I?
- Official Groundbreaking Celebration was 5-18-2018
- Park construction began on 23 acres of land overlooking the water of the Iron River Flowage, clearing land of debris, shrubs & trees
- Electricity brought to the site
- Memorial site with flags and Honor Wall completed
- Parking lot completed
- Across The Pond Veterans Park sign completed
- Packer Walking Trail constructed
- Vietnam Memorial construction begun 2023
- North and South settling ponds constructed by Wisconsin National Guard July 2024
- Well drilled and pump installed
Phase Two
![parkmap Park Map](https://acrossthepondpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/parkmap.png)
WHAT'S NEXT??
- Seasonal camping for RVs, campers & tents
- Facility building for recreational use, special programing, gathering shelter, event center and more
- Vietnam Memorial completed
- Construct bathroom/showers & dump station
- Establish handicapped access to the water allowing for fishing and other water activities