May 4, 2023
Administration
Citywide Garage Sale
Building Inspection
Building Safety Month!
#BuildingSafetyMonth2023 is finally here! This month’s theme is “It Starts with YOU!”, and Week 1 is all about how building safety starts at home. #BuildingSafety365
Visit www.buildingsafetymonth.org for tips on fire safety, preventing mold, backyard, and pool safety and more.
For additional information about the Building Inspection Division in Sun Prairie, please go to www.cityofsunprairie.com/buildinginspection
Community Development
City of Sun Prairie to Recognize May as Affordable Housing Month
The City of Sun Prairie will be recognizing May as Affordable Housing Month by offering community members a variety of events aimed at increasing their understanding and involvement in housing. Activities planned during this time are offered in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Dane County, Tenant Resource Center, Bank of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), Sun Prairie Housing Coalition, and Freidel Family Realtors.
First-Time Homebuyers Workshop
The series of events will kick off with a first-time homebuyers workshop held at the Sun Prairie Public Library on Wednesday, May 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This educational event will offer a deeper dive into the homebuying process, including loan and down payment assistance programs. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of local market conditions, concrete steps to homeownership, and resources available to them.
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/230933863516157
Tenant Rights: Evictions/ Derechos de los Inquilinos: Desalojos
This bilingual event led by the Tenant Resource Center will take place on Wednesday, May 10 at Sunshine Place in the Enterprise Building beginning at 5:30 p.m. The presentation will focus on explaining the different types of eviction notices, eviction process, and tenant rights. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and presenters can clarify misconceptions surrounding this topic. The following event is centered on renters and knowing their rights.
English registration: https://form.jotform.com/230933870940156
Registro español: https://form.jotform.com/230933870940156
Housing Coalition Kickoff Meeting
Community members who are interested in learning more about housing challenges and how to advocate for change will have the opportunity to do so at this event. On Thursday, May 18, the Sun Prairie Housing Coalition will host their first kickoff meeting in the community room at Sunshine Place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Attendees will be able to connect with others passionate about this topic while also gaining a deeper understanding of issues facing Sun Prairie.
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/230934592101147
Habitat Home Dedication with Open House & Tour
Habitat for Humanity is inviting the community to attend a home dedication ceremony in Town Hall Crossing at 1155 Westridge Dr. on Tuesday, May 23 beginning at 4:30 p.m. The ceremony consists of connecting the volunteers who built the home together with the new homeowners for a celebration of its completion. Additionally, there will be a presentation and neighborhood tour that follows to present the work Habitat is doing in the Sun Prairie community.
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/230933889012156
All events are open to the community and free to attend. Registration is strongly encouraged.
“I am immensely grateful for the strong spirit of collaboration between the City of Sun Prairie and these partner organizations to offer a variety of events centered on affordable housing,” said Becky Binz, Housing & Equitable Development Planner.
For additional information about the City’s efforts on housing, please visit https://cityofsunprairie.com/1697/Housing-for-All.
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Recreation Department
The Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry office is open: Monday – Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, or by phone at (608) 837-3449 or by email at rec@cityofsunprairie.com.
Announcements:
Summer Rec Guide out now!
Summer Rec Guide and registration is now open for residents!
1. View the Summer Guide at rec.cityofsunprairie.com!
2. Log in to our website to make sure you know your password and that your account is up to date, including street address and email address.
3. If you don’t already have an account, create your account. If you think you have an account, but cannot find yourself on the website, please do not add yourself again. Call the Recreation Department office at 608-837-3449 and we will assist you.
4. If you do not have a Sun Prairie address, but live in the Sun Prairie School District, the system will not know that and will charge you Non-Resident rates. If you continue your registration and pay Non-Resident rates, the difference is non-refundable. Please contact our office prior to your registration so that we may adjust your account to reflect the proper designation.
5. If you accidentally register for the wrong program, do not immediately register for the correct program. Call us 608-837-3449 and we can make the transfer for you.
“Recreation is for Everyone” Scholarship form!
We’re Hiring!
Run the Parks
USTA Event
Upcoming Programs Not to Be Missed:
American Red Cross Babysitter Training
May 13th
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 5/6/2023
This training provides kids, ages 11-15, with the information and skills necessary to provide safe and responsible care in the absence of parents/guardians. This training will also help participants develop skills in leadership, professionalism, basic care, safety, safe play and first aid.
All sessions cover the same material.
Please bring a sack lunch.
All Inclusive Teen Night – June
June 2nd
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Teen Nights is a partnership between Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation, & Forestry and the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin to create a free all-inclusive space for teens with Down syndrome and related disabilities to come together for a night of independence, fun, and friendship! Join us on the first Friday of the month for different activities each Teen Night! We'll be featuring game nights, crafts, dances, movement activities, seasonal activities and more!
Parents and caregivers are not required to remain onsite, unless their child requires assistance utilizing the restroom. For any questions about the Teen Night, please contact Emily Rebarchek at erebarcheck@cityofsunprairie.com or (608) 825-0765.
Monthly Themes
- June: National Donut Day and National Dairy Month Spectacular
- July: Disability Pride Month
- August: End of Summer Celebration
Concerts in the Park
Public Services
City of Sun Prairie Adjusts Yard Waste Collection Dates to Support No Mow May
The second yard waste collection of spring is being moved to May 30th through June 9th.
Yard Waste Information
Yard waste is categorized as leafy vegetation that composts in a short period of time. Leaves, grass, garden waste and shrub trimmings are yard waste. Collections are scheduled in advance to attempt to meet the needs of residents and is collected curbside twice in the spring and twice in the fall.
Materials must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30th and they will be picked up sometime during that week or the next (depending on weather, equipment/crew availability, and amount of materials out to be collected throughout the city).
Yard waste can also be disposed of at the Recycle Center.
Yard Waste Guidelines
- Materials placed at the curb for collection on the scheduled weeks must be placed into open trash bags, garbage cans (no lids) or storage containers (no lids).
- Plastic bags must be untied in order to be collected. If the plastic bags are tied shut, they will not be collected.
- Leave a container out for your empty plastic bags, crews will not take the plastic bags.
- To be collected, bags/containers should weigh no more than 50 lbs.
- Please do not mix brush or garbage with the materials.
Sun Prairie Historical Museum
Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum
The Museum is back to summer hours! The Museum is open to the public Wednesdays-Saturdays 11:00am-4:00pm and by appointment.
Staff can be reached by phone at (608) 825-0837 or by email at museum@cityofsunprairie.com .
The Historical Library and Museum is located at 115 East Main St. Sun Prairie with parking behind the building. Admission is always free.
Announcements:
Summer 2023 at the Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum
Looking for ways to engage with local history this summer? Check out our first activities of the season!
Sun Prairie Junior High School 1971 Time Capsule - Thank you!
On April 5th, community members joined Museum staff and former Sun Prairie Area School District Superintendent Ollie Berge to open a 1971 time capsule found during demolition of 160 South Street (most recently Prairie Phoenix Academy).
Thank you to everyone who attended, and if you missed it you can still see the contents at the Museum through April 29th. For friends who couldn’t make it, you can check out media coverage at the following links:
Sun Prairie Media Center: Sun Prairie VOD Player (telvue.com)
Channel 3000 News: Sun Prairie Historical Museum opens time capsule from 1971 | News | channel3000.com
Sun Prairie Star: Sun Prairie Historical Museum opens class of '71 time capsule | School | hngnews.com
Sun Prairie Public Library
Adult Services
Poetry Discussion with Carrie Voigt Schonhoff
Monday, May 8 6-7 p.m., Conference Room
Join us for an intimate and open discussion with Wisconsin poet Carrie Voigt Schonhoff about her book, "The End of the Beginning." This collection of poems addresses the importance of healing, moving on, and being ready to face a new beginning, and will resonate deeply with readers from the Midwest and those that continue to face challenges but never stop dreaming.
Space is limited, registration required. Please register on our Events Calendar at www.sunprairie.librarymarket.com. Copies of the book are on hand at the Information Desk for those who have registered.
Tuesday, May 16 7-8 p.m., Community Room
Artists for the evening are Huan-Hua Chye and Steev baker. Doors will open at 6:30, with performances starting at 7 p.m.
Huan-Hua Chye is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who records and performs solo under the name miscellaneous owl, but also plays in bands including Gentle Brontosaurus, an indie pop five-piece based in Madison, and Vowl Sounds, a transatlantic dream pop recording project with a friend based in Matlock, England. She is active in various online songwriting communities such as February Album Writing Month, Songfight, and the PRF Monthly Tribute Series as well as playing regular tribute sets at events like Madison's Freakin' Halloweekend. Originally from Berkeley, California, she now lives in Madison with her husband and cat.
Steev baker has been performing as a singer/songwriter and musician in various incarnations at small and large venues all over Wisconsin since 1998. He is equally influenced by folk ballads, punk rock, and the hymns he grew up singing in church. Often accompanied by cello and noise guitar, Steev has performed at several local music festivals including Homegrown (West Bend, 2015), Water City Racket Fest (Oshkosh, 2019), Summerfest (Guitars for Vets stage, 2022), and Mile of Music (Appleton, 2021). He grew up in rural Wisconsin, but now lives in Madison and works at the Sun Prairie Public Library. Joining him for his set will be his long-time collaborator Emily Selk-Loper, a classically trained cellist from Oshkosh.
The artists may have CDs or other merchandise for sale. Please bring cash to support these local musicians! This series is generously funded by the Friends of the Sun Prairie Public Library.
Thursday, May 18 6-8 p.m., Library Community Room
Bob Lindmeier, who has been the face and voice of weather on Channel 27 brings his wealth of information and concern for the planet to this presentation. SPARC and the Sun Prairie Public Library are pleased to have him in Sun Prairie to give us his presentation and to hold a community conversation about how we are, and should in the future, address this crisis.
Sun Prairie Action Resource Coalition (SPARC) is a grassroots information and action network which supports and promotes local involvement to move Sun Prairie and Wisconsin forward. To learn more, please visit: https://sunprairieaction.wordpress.com/
Please register on our Events Calendar at www.sunprairie.librarymarket.com if you would like an email reminder prior to this event.
Downtown Sun Prairie Farmers’ Market
Saturday, May 6 7-8:30am
Saturday, May 20 8-10am
Join the Dream Bus Mobile Library at the Downtown Sun Prairie Farmers' Market! Sign up for a library card, check out free books, music, and movies, access free Wi-Fi and resources, and more!
Sun Prairie Utilities
Trash Clean-up!
Crews with Sun Prairie Utilities were out Tuesday, May 2, cleaning up trash! Around 50 bags of garbage were cleared from the west side of Highway 151 between Windsor St. and S. Main St. Great job, team!