Interior architecture professor designed a cultural landscape

A public, circular park sits on the banks of the Wisconsin River in Stevens Point, filled with lush plants, sculptures, rock formations and artifacts from around the world.

Located within Pfiffner Park, the Cultural Commons interactive garden exists to connect people and other cultures, specifically those of Stevens Point's sister cities and of the native Menomonee tribe who once lived on the riverbank. It was designed that way by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point interior architecture Associate Professor Aaron Kadoch.

"The commons is a symbol of a community that is open to diversity and wants to commemorate that," Kadoch said. "It embodies multiculturalism with a sense of place and the landscape."

Kadoch became involved in the project about six years ago when it began as an idea between the leaders of three community organizations that connect Stevens Point with its sister cities: Rostov Veliky, Russia; Gulcz, Poland; and Esteli, Nicaragua.

Along with Susan Zach with the Russia Sister City Project, Leon Ostrowski with the Polish Heritage Awareness Society and Amy Wiza with the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc, Kadoch began brainstorming concepts for a circular park, symbolic of the shape of a peace sign. Within a few years, the four began building a team of stakeholders, brought the city on board with the riverside site and finalized a design.

The Rotary Club of Stevens Point got involved to help with fundraising. "The timing was perfect because the group was looking for a project to celebrate their centennial in 2017," Kadoch said. "With their input, the garden added an aspect of celebrating Stevens Point's culture and history as well as a global perspective, adding energy and enthusiasm to the project."

The garden was funded completely by donations and was completed and dedicated in 2020. Many local contractors, builders, suppliers and services were used, with plaques at the commons naming all those who contributed. The stones that cover its winding paths carry names that honor or memorialize Stevens Point residents. Master gardeners added plants that represent both local and sister city plants, which volunteers continue to maintain.

In its center is a sculpture of a Menominee ricing canoe by John McDonald and Margaret Kettle. Nearby a tall sculpture features two eagles, representing Poland the United States. Created by Boleslaw Kochanowski of Junction City, it is titled "For Your Freedom and Ours."

Much of the landscape and plantings of the park represent the regions of the sister cities. On the north side of the circle, Kadoch designed a tower for a bronze bell cast in Rostov Veliky, by its mayor. Several pergolas and rock formations are set in the middle and west side of the circle, representing the mountainous region of Esteli. One formation was created with local stone by Kodoch and another features an oval rock that was sent from Nicaragua.

Phase two of the project includes plans for an educational focus, with an outdoor classroom for multicultural programs that will be placed in another circle on the north side of the current park.

Kadoch's professional work and research is in community-based design, he said. Before coming to UWSP in 2011, he worked in landscape architecture, land development and urban planning in Vermont and the Twin Cities. He now teaches both traditional interior architecture courses as well as sustainable design, which includes students of all majors working on projects in community-based design.

"I'm interested in collaborating more with students and faculty in our College of Natural Resources as well as geography and geology to create cross-discipline courses in urban planning and design," he said.

"Community-based design looks at the whole community as a client, creating something that benefits everyone," Kadoch said. "Our infrastructure is aging, so we need to design for environmental and social sustainability. Community-based design looks at what we need for the future."

Kadoch hopes that visitors to the Cultural Commons find ways to make multicultural, local and global connections.

"Even if you don't know all the symbolism, you can experience it and enjoy the diversity of the ecological and architectural aspects of the park," he said.

"It's beautiful in every season. You can't see it all at once - you have to wander, meander and explore it to find all the details."