Village of Trempealeau Announces Transformational Gift for James Reed Park

Trempealeau, WI – The Village of Trempealeau is proud to announce a transformational gift from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation that will add a signature community amenity to the Village’s newest parkland development, now officially known as James Reed Park.

James Reed Park is named in honor of James Reed, Ronald Wanek’s great great great grandfather and a foundational figure in Trempealeau’s history. Reed was the first permanent White settler in Trempealeau County, which was established in 1851, and he established a trading post known as Reeds Landing on 53 acres he purchased from the U.S. Government, the area that would become downtown Trempealeau. He also served as the county’s first judge, playing a pivotal role in the early civic and economic development of the community.

Through an extraordinarily generous contribution, the Foundation is gifting the Village a pavilion that will be known as the Wanek Pavilion. This gift represents one of the most significant private philanthropic investments in park infrastructure in the Village’s history.

For more than a year, the Village of Trempealeau, Friends of Trempealeau Parkland, Ashley Furniture Industries, and the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation have worked closely and collaboratively to bring this vision to life. The result is an incredible new facility that will serve residents, families, and visitors for generations.

The Wanek Pavilion will feature a large open-air gathering space, seasonal public restrooms, a two-story press box for baseball and softball games, and a commercial kitchen designed to support concessions as well as private rentals for parties, celebrations, and community events. Together, these features create a flexible, high-quality facility that enhances both recreational programming and community use of the park.

Village Board members and staff are deeply grateful for this generous gift and the trust it represents. The Wanek Pavilion will become a centerpiece of James Reed Park and a lasting symbol of investment in Trempealeau’s future.

The Village also extends special recognition to the Friends of Trempealeau Parkland. Their leadership, advocacy, and fundraising efforts were instrumental in making this project possible. With this gift, the Friends have now raised more than $2.2 million in private support, complementing the $3.1 million already committed by the Village toward development of the park.

Construction of the Wanek Pavilion is planned to begin on April 1, with substantial completion anticipated by August 1. To ensure efficient coordination and protect the finished work, the Village will intentionally delay final construction of the park’s parking lot until the pavilion is complete. Once pavilion construction is finished, the Village will resume and complete its remaining contract work with Stout Construction for the parking lot and related site improvements within the park.

This partnership reflects what is possible when public, nonprofit, and private organizations come together with a shared commitment to community, recreation, and quality of life.

Additional details and future public announcements will be shared as the project progresses.