Plans For Playground At Waukesha County Airport Take Flight

WAUKESHA, WI—The roar of engines, the chatter of the control tower, the view of a perfect landing, the smell of jet fuel: These are the sights, sounds and other sensations that can inspire a love of aviation.

A nonprofit organization is looking to raise funds to build an aviation-themed playground at Waukesha County Airport to inspire that same love in a new generation of engineers, aviators and others.

Tim Prudlow of the PreFlight Foundation Inc. hopes the playground will serve to do just that.

Prudlow, who sells medical supplies for a living, has always had passion for flying. His father was an Air Force flight surgeon in Minot, North Dakota, in the early 1970s. He then became an ear, nose and throat surgeon and practiced in Wisconsin.

Prudlow's older brothers took him to air shows. By high school, he was taking flying lessons himself. "I started flying in high school and got my flying license after college," he told Patch. "I've always tried ways to stay active in it."

Now the father of two young children, he wants to pass on that passion to a new generation.

Prudlow owns a flight simulator under a limited liability company, and the Spring City Aviation flight school leases it by the hour to train students. "It was my first little business venture with aviation," he said.

Prudlow takes Cub Scout groups to use the simulator. "As my boys get a little older, and my wife approves, I will probably get more into it," he said.

Discovering aviation can lead a person to discover new worlds, he said. "It opens your eyes to so many things," he said.

Playground Project

Prudlow spoke with Kurt Stanich, Waukesha County Airport director, about his proposed playground. Stanich supported the idea and the need for someone to spearhead the proposal.

"The airport is supportive of Tim’s efforts," Stanich told Patch. "We are excited about the possibility of welcoming families to a unique attraction at Crites Field." Before the project can move forward, the city needs to approve it, he added.

Prudlow incorporated his nonprofit in 2019 to raise money for the playground project, and it received IRS approval in 2020. (It is currently listed on Charity Navigator, which has not offered an opinion on the organization or its fundraising efforts.)

The playground project was inspired by the 2005 documentary film "One Six Right: The Romance of Flying," about the history and struggles of Southern California's iconic Van Nuys Airport.

"Ask any pilot, that is a movie they have seen," Prudlow said. "There is a scene at Van Nuys [Airport] that shows a little playground area."

PreFlight's project rendering depicts a swing set, slides and other recreational and educational equipment to teach children about the industry.

"Being surrounded by the activity of the airport while playing on an educational play system will serve as a gateway for kids' first exposure to this industry that can provide so many great lessons," he said.

Anyone who is an aviation enthusiast or fan likes to find reasons to hang out at the airport, he added. People just like to go from hangar to hangar to talk to pilots about their planes or to enjoy air shows.

Prudlow's plan is to complete the playground through private funding. The charity hopes to raise between $125,000 to $250,000. Prudlow has raised around $4,000 from word of mouth and his own networks.

The playground will occupy land east of the terminal building overlooking the tower and terminals. The project may include a gazebo and picnic areas for functions and events, depending on how much money the foundation raises.

"We are now getting formal plans to what square footage we can have," he said.

Waukesha County Airport and Crites Field hosts two food trucks each Friday through Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the east side of the terminal building at 2525 Aviation Drive.

The airport started this year to offer a fundraising opportunity to nonprofit organizations at Food Truck Fridays. A percentage goes back to the organization.

PreFlight Foundation Inc. was there on Friday to raise awareness for its project near where the playground is proposed.

"It is a cool area to sit and watch. What is cool is it is being done right where we want the playground to be," Prudlow said.