The heart in the park
February 17, 2020
Erich Vanblargan
THE MIRROR
Stevens Point is a quaint town with a large population and small space. The beauty of Stevens Point is the waterways that weave through the entire province.
No matter where you go in Stevens Point there is always a river, stream or brook at least one mile away. Recreation IN the city has appropriately adapted to extend to these waterways and no location has been better adapted than Bukolt Park.
Bukolt was originally known as Waterworks Park. In 1925 the park board was urged to improve and beautify the park to be more accessibility for tourist campers. Later three residents on Sixth Avenue donated land to provide a better roadway to the park.
According to StevensPoint.com/ the history of our parks “In 1931 the city granted flowage rights to the Consolidated Water, Power and Paper Company specifying that a lagoon and island be formed in the park. Then on May 5, 1936 the park was renamed Bukolt Park in honor of John J. Bukolt, the founder of the Automatic Cradle Manufacturing Company.”
Since its founding Bukolt has been a gathering place for many in Stevens Point. Since many can remember the park has been a gathering place for the high school and college students. Although some of the activities that they partake in are questionable there is no denying that Bukolt is rather popular.
There are few days where one may visit Bukolt Park and not see at least one fisherman fishing in the lagoon or in the surrounding waters. Bukolt is a popular site for anglers as smallmouth bass spawn in the lagoon during the fall, walleye can be caught offshore during the winter thaw, and there are even muskellunge that can be caught during the summer months.
On warm or sunny days, the water is occupied by kayaks, boats, Sea-Doos, or swimmers. The park is visited daily by families on trips or picnics, couples on dates or folks just out for a walk.
There are also some events that can only be seen in Bukolt at certain times and some that are even traditions. If one went to the park during the hours just before dawn around dusk there may just be a common carp jumping out of the water after the mosquitos that gather near the water’s surface.
If one goes to the park Between 11:26 and 1:03 there is a chance that you may happen upon a redneck boxing match. This is a tradition set during the early 2000’s where rednecks get in their trucks and head to Bukolt en mass to spar with one another using two pairs of boxing gloves provided by one of the group.
Although it sounds brutish and immature there are rules set up by the group, one being nothing below the belt and two the matches are organized to take place on a certain day. During the start of the school year there is also the chance of witnessing the Bukolt Baptism where the sophomores are tossed into the water and earn the recognition of a redneck. These traditions help solidify their friendship and bond between one another and their almost jury-rigged family.
Kaitlyn Flanagan • Mar 8, 2020 at 11:22 PM
I liked the way things were explained. I could picture it in my head. I love spending time at bukolt with my friends while we just sit and talk
Brian Kraege • Mar 5, 2020 at 1:39 PM
Didn’t know it had another name before, not that I really looked into it. It was pretty smart of you to add that bit about rivers at the start.
Mazie Maluka • Mar 5, 2020 at 1:24 PM
I felt the piece was a little too directionless and over explained unnecessary things. I think that Bukolt is a staple of our community so it was interesting to learn about the history I, personally, would have just appreciated if it would have been condensed to one or two events that were well explained.
Wyatt Cornell • Mar 4, 2020 at 8:27 PM
I don’t think you’re supposed to talk about what the rednecks do at Bukolt. You had very good word choice and your intro was very appealing.
Noah Viegut • Mar 4, 2020 at 1:43 PM
I never knew bukolt was so popular with certain SPASH students. I would have thought the boxing matches would have been shut down long ago.
Erich Vanblargan • Mar 4, 2020 at 7:56 AM
I had a hard time writing this article there was so much information that I could have included about the parks history that I desired to show. However not all of it was pertinent to the article. The recreation of the park is also interesting to watch depending upon how you feel during that day as I have enjoyed watching an angle pull in a giant snapping turtle only for it to get away and then spend the rest of the day trying to find it again.
Kenny Schultz • Mar 3, 2020 at 8:48 PM
I thought this story was very well written because everything you explained sounded great and correctly stated. I love this park and I love to play baseball there in the spring and summer.