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Kiwanis Pond in Janesville
Wisconsin was so named in 1987 when the Janesville Kiwanis Club adopted what
was formerly known as Blackhawk Pond. The pond includes 10.25 acres of water surrounded by 11.88 acres of land for a
total park site size of 22.13 acres.
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Originally this area was known as Atlas Pit when it was operated at Atlas Sand and Gravel Company
from 1932 until it was closed in 1960 as spring water filled the quarry and mining was no longer feasible. In 1962 this
area was sold to the City for a park and the adjacent Blackhawk Golf Course.
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In 1993 the Kiwanis lead by former City Planner and Engineer Dave Knoerr designed and constructed a new handicap
accessible fishing pier that extended 60’ out in the pond to a water depth of 16’ deep. This was a $10,000 project
donated by Kiwanis. To save money the pier was efficiently built during the winter with piling posts driven through holes
in the ice and the volunteers built the pier from the ice surface. Fish cribs were built on the ice and sunk within casting
distance of the pier to provide fish habitat and improve fisherman success from the pier.
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In 2008 considerable rains brought all time record flooding throughout Southern
Wisconsin and the Janesville area. The
Rock River was way out of its banks. High ground water raised the water level of Kiwanis Pond by several feet
as there is no outlet to drain this spring fed pond. The high water rose above the fishing pier and remained for several years
causing considerable damage to the pier deck and structure.
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In the face of city need, The Kiwanis Clubs of Janesville stepped forward once again in 2012 to rebuild the
damaged 60’ long x 8’ wide pier plus “T” shaped fishing end-structure measuring 10’ wide by
20’ in length. Damage to the pier was estimated by the city to $29,000 for outside contractors to repair or replace.
City engineering staff and club volunteers meet on several occasions which provided city engineer Matt McGrath the information
he needed to create plans to salvage and rebuild the existing pier. The Kiwanis Clubs donated over $11,000 to fund the
materials for pier reconstruction. Golden Kiwanis Club member Gordon Drake put in over 280 volunteer hours in leading the
pier rebuilt. Golden Kiwanis members added 45 hours of work and the Noon Kiwanis Club members lead by member Ben Coopman provided
over 100 additional hours of volunteer effort. Further community volunteers contributed over 100 hours of work including volunteer
hours by the Janesville Fire Department Divers who reinforced the several long piling posts which support the pier’s
60’ length.
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Ribbon Cutting
August 1, 2012
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