BLANCHARDVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - For the first time in years, Blanchardville residents have a place to swim in the summer — and it’s not your typical pool.

On Aug. 1, the village opened a new natural swimming pond in McKellar Park, complete with inflatable playground equipment. It’s the result of years of fundraising, planning, and a major change in direction by the nonprofit Friends of McKellar Park Inc.

The community’s old pool had been closed for years after structural issues made it unusable.

“There was a large crack in the bottom. It was leaking an entire swimming pool worth of water a week… and the expense to the village in regards to water and chemicals was pretty astronomical,” said Marsha Crooks, a founding member of Friends of McKellar Park.

Crooks said the group initially set o

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