Post Messenger Recorder -

Dear Editor,

If you grew up in the New Glarus area, you probably spent some time on Killer Hill (for those who may be a bit older than me, you may know it as Kittelson’s Hill) during the winter months. While I didn’t grow up in New Glarus, I lived close enough to have experienced Killer Hill during my youth. Through the generosity of Shepherd of the Hills Church, the hill has been the destination for generations of area kids and adults for winter sledding. During summer months, kids and families enjoy the green space by playing baseball, softball, kickball, and soccer, throwing frisbees, flying kites, rolling down the hill to see how far they can go, venturing to the middle of the hill to stargaze, and more.

Shepherd of the Hills Church has listed this green space for sale, and my hope is we can keep this land undeveloped and make it an extension of Candy Cane Park, as parks and green spaces are so valuable to communities. The village doesn’t have the budget to purchase the land, so some current and former community members are working to form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, New Glarus Cares. The goal of the nonprofit is to work with all of us to raise enough funds to purchase the land and donate it to the village to ensure future generations have the opportunity to utilize this green space for year-round recreation.

New Glarus Cares is not currently accepting donations, but is actively seeking pledges from anyone willing to help the cause. Please join me in pledging your support at https://www.newglaruscares.com. Every little bit helps!

You can also show your support by attending the upcoming Village Board Meeting on Tuesday, December 6th, at 7:00 p.m., or by volunteering your time to help fundraise at upcoming events. Visit the website above or email info@newglaruscares.com to sign up to volunteer.

Let’s protect this valuable green space so it’s available for future generations of area residents to enjoy!

Erin Speth,

New Glarus