Kenosha County will hold its second annual Veterans Appreciation Summer Picnic on Friday, May 31, at noon at the Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park. The event is open to local veterans and their families. Admission is free, and lunch will be provided by MISSION BBQ in Kenosha. Dousman Transport Co. will offer free roundtrip transportation from Festival Foods on 80th Street in Kenosha to the park, subject to available space.
“I look forward to celebrating the start of summer with our community’s veterans at our county park that’s dedicated in their honor,” said County Executive Samantha Kerkman. “I appreciate the support of the community partners that came together again to make this possible.”
The picnic will take place in the Veterans Honor Plaza within the park, which is located west of Highway KD and north of Highway F in Randall and Wheatland. The plaza can be accessed from Karow Court off Highway F (Bassett Road), just west of Highway KD (352nd Avenue).
Attendees can view a new shelter honoring Army veterans that was completed last year. This shelter is part of a planned series recognizing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Wilmot Union High School band students are scheduled to perform during the picnic. Representatives from Snap-on Incorporated will also attend and be recognized for their donation supporting ongoing development at the park.
The 335-acre Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park features amenities such as Freedom Lake, which covers 39 acres and is available for nonmotorized water activities, as well as over five miles of walking trails.
“The Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park is a beautiful place for veterans and others to reflect and enjoy the landscape,” said Jennifer Blasi, Director of Kenosha County Veterans Services. “And this picnic is a great opportunity to see it and to enjoy the company of fellow veterans.”
Those needing transportation should contact the Kenosha County Veterans Service Office by phone or email. Guests who arrange their own transportation do not need to register.
Additional information about services for veterans in Kenosha County can be found on its official website (www.kenoshacounty.org/368/Veterans), along with more details about the memorial park (www.kenoshacounty.org/1658/Kenosha-County-Veterans-Memorial-Park).
Kenosha County schools serve a diverse student population. During the 2023-24 school year, white students made up 55.6% (14,124) of total enrollment; Hispanic students were 25.7% (6,528), while Black students accounted for 10.4% (2,642). American Indian students represented one of the smallest groups at 0.2%. More details are available through Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction website: https://dpi.wi.gov/.
Indian Trail High School and Academy had the highest enrollment among county schools during this period with 2,001 students; Tremper High School followed with 1,458 students, and Bradford High School had 1,448 enrolled: https://dpi.wi.gov/.
