Croatian Park in Milwaukee breaks ground on new modern pavilion

(Photo: Michael Stivoric)

A new chapter for Croatian Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as groundbreaking of a modern pavilion takes place.

Approximately two years ago, the Board of the Federation of Croatian Societies, led by President Tomislav Kuzmanovic, made a strategic and bold decision to build a new, spacious, and modern pavilion at the Croatian Park in Franklin, Wisconsin.

They embarked on fundraising campaign and to date have raised over $1.1 million for this worthy project.

Major contributors include Mike and Branka Dudas of Len Dudas Motors, Paul and Patsy Lucas, the Croatian Fraternal Union, and Catholic Financial Life.

(Photo: Michael Stivoric)

President Tomislav Kuzmanovic, in his address during the ceremonial ground-breaking event last month at Croatian Park, detailed its history.

“Good morning and welcome to Croatian Park. 68 years ago, in 1956, the predecessor to the Federation of Croatian Societies, the Croatian Central Committee, had the vision and foresight to purchase 20 acres of farmland in the middle of nowhere for the benefit of the Croatian American community.

It was a big financial risk. The park’s founding fathers, Louis Rukavina, Ante Ruzic, Steve Skender, Steve Dejanovic, and Steve Adamovic, all board members of the Croatian Central Committee, each guaranteed a loan of $15,000 that another founder, John Rupena, put down for the park.

Louis Rukavina, in particular, was a calm, quiet leader. He was the one who found this location and put together the purchase. Ever conscious of not having any type of lien on the property, the Central Committee saved $5,000 for the purchase. John Rupena’s down payment would be $109,000 in today’s dollars.

In this Croatian organization, there were never any deficits.

A subsequent board purchased the additional 10-acre south parcel from Standard Oil in 1980 for $15,000. Josip Schauer Sr. and Joe Panhans, both board members, personally guaranteed the money.

Again, no loan was taken out for that purchase. Most of the structures at the park were built by our own community between 1956 and 1962. The kitchen building was built in 1993. The soccer clubhouse had additions beginning in the 1990s. As our park committee, led by Josip Veber and assisted by Zarko Susac and Stjepan Zivkovic can attest, those buildings were well built by mostly our own hands.

As time went on, the younger generation of Croatian Americans saw the need to expand and improve the park. Unlike in the first 30 years or so of the park’s history, the park cannot survive solely on the Croatian American community.

These younger board members, delegates, and supporters saw an opportunity given the unique beauty of this property. They thought, ‘Let’s try a beer garden.’ I may be missing some names, but those younger members, Joe Schauer, Jr., Mato Veber, David Hampel, Josip Jaksic, Josip Skoko, John Braovac, Robert Braovac, Joe Osvatic, and Boris Buco Kuzmanovic went a bit against the grain of the ‘old timers’, who were sceptical.

Since its inception, their vision has been realised. The Croatian Park Beer Garden, even open once a week from spring to fall, has been voted the most popular beer garden in the Greater Metro Milwaukee Area. It’s kept the Federation running well into the black.

(Photo: Michael Stivoric)

That brings us to today. The vision to move forward and modernise, to promote and ensure the future of the Croatian American community at the park, has led us to this event, the ceremonial ground-breaking for a new pavilion complex.

Is this a risk? Yes. But it’s a risk worth taking, like the risk our park’s founders took in 1956. Using their financial roadmap, this board would not allow the park to be used for collateral. That meant raising the money on our own, and quite frankly, mostly from our own community.

We’ve not asked for, nor have we received, any type of government handout. To date, the Federation, with the help of our fundraising partners, has raised $1.3 million. Like our founding father board members, 5 board members have guaranteed a line of credit, to be tapped if necessary, to complete this project.

Those board members are Paul Lucas, Mato Veber, Thomas Krenz, Robert Braovac, and Tomislav Kuzmanovic.

The Federation would not be in this position to make such a ground-breaking were it not for two families in particular: the Dudas Family and the Lucas Family.

Croatian Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Those families have financially given, by far, the most, with the Dudas Family leading the way. Their lead-off donation of $100,000, which has risen to $150,000, included the naming rights to the pavilion. They also donated a beautiful 2023 GMC Terrain for a car raffle. The Lucas Family has given over $100,000 with the naming rights to the new stage, after Paul’s late wife, Patsy Jurkovic Lucas.

Of particular significance to me and my entire family, and especially my parents, Boris and Ivanka Kuzmanovic, is that this pavilion will forever carry the name of my late brother, their son, Boris Buco Kuzmanovic.

Buco was an amazing musician, prim player, singer, Division One soccer player, and a proud volunteer of the Croatian Army when Croatia was fighting for its very existence. And yes, he was one of the young guys who said, ‘Let’s do a beer garden.’

When we started this fundraising campaign, our board knew it would be tough. When Mike and Branka Dudas told me that they wanted to make a donation, I was very happy and thankful. Branka is my sister, and she, Buco, and I have all grown up at this park.

I had no idea nor did I seek or suggest what they would contribute. None of us knew until Mike and Branka presented the board with a ceremonial check for $100,000. I got goosebumps and the board was temporarily speechless.

(Photo: Michael Stivoric)

I say temporarily because if you know Croatians, they are never speechless. Branka and Mike jumpstarted our campaign, and for that our board and delegates are forever grateful.

We are also grateful to each person that has generously donated. Thank you to the Federation member organisations that have given donations from their own treasuries: American Croatian Radio Club; Milwaukee Croatian Tamburitzans; Mukwonago CFU Lodge 990; CFU Lodge 1959; Sacred Heart Church; St. Augustine Church, Granicari, and to our predecessor boards, officers and delegates. Some of those boards found a way to keep the park going when finances were tough.

Without you, we would not be here today.

We are also proud to have our partners here as well: our contractor, American Construction Services; our architect, Barrientos Design & Consulting; one of our fundraising companies, Sabljak & Budish, and those friends that have helped us along the way, our Franklin Alderman Ed Holpfer, our County Supervisor Patti Logsdon, and of course, our Parish Priest, Father Dragan Bolcic, to give a blessing and provide us with spiritual guidance,” Kuzmanovic said.

(Photo: Michael Stivoric)

The new pavilion was designed by an architectural firm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Barrientos Design & Consulting. The contractor selected is American Construction Companies from West Bend, WI.

Construction on the new pavilion commenced this week, and it is anticipated that its completion will be by the end of this year.

The Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) in Milwaukee is holding the 90th Anniversary Croatian Fest this Saturday, July 20th, at Croatian Park. More details here.