On Saturday, Sept. 26, rubber ducks set off down Salt Creek in Brookfield’s fourth annual Duck Race. A small construction excavator released them near the Washington Street bridge, and spectators headed south to a net by the canoe launch behind Village Hall. The Riverside-Brookfield Landmark reported that a crowd of a couple hundred gathered near the finish. The fundraiser supported the Brookfield Parks and Recreation Foundation, which helps local families afford village recreation programs.
The finish brought a handful of winners into focus. Pam Kosey’s duck reached the net first, earning a $1,000 prize. Laura Kirk placed second for $750, and George Ulrich took third for $500. Dorothy Nava, Grace Williamson and Jessica Yovich were also named winners after their Golden Ducks finished among the first three in that group; each received a gift card to a Brookfield business. The results gave the crowd names to cheer for, while the broader purpose was supporting recreation access in the village.
The final count made this year’s race a record for the foundation. Board member Kyle Whitehead told the crowd after the race that more than 3,300 ducks had been sold and that sales and sponsorships had brought in more than $22,000. In a follow-up email to the Landmark on Sept. 28, he confirmed $22,565 in gross revenue, from 3,343 ducks and 185 Golden Ducks. Whitehead said each figure set a new foundation record. Whitehead’s follow-up identified the total as gross revenue, rather than a net figure.
The duck sales depended on help that began well before race day. The Landmark reported that the Brookfield Women’s Club helped sell ducks throughout the summer. At the event, foundation board members staffed a T-shirt booth, while volunteers scooped ducks from the creek’s finish. Whitehead and board member Lisa Stefano consulted the sales records to determine the winners. The race also coincided with the village farmers market near the canoe launch. Those details show how a small local fundraiser can draw on familiar community networks: people selling entries, working a booth, helping with the finish, and coming by to watch.
The foundation says its purpose is to lower fees and make park programs more accessible. On its official website, it describes support for children and families seeking sports, arts, dance, science activities, story hours, summer camps, and before- and after-school care. The Landmark reports that the foundation can cover up to half the enrollment cost for eligible low-income Brookfield families. The event page identifies the foundation as host and says purchases and donations support its mission.
The foundation’s website gives examples of how its assistance can work across different activities. It says a $60 contribution can provide a place in a six-week recreation program, with examples including art, athletics, dance, STEM, and story hours. It lists $80 to $165 to support a week of summer or specialty camp, depending on the program. Separate examples describe monthly tuition assistance for before- and after-school care. These published figures explain the range of the foundation’s work; they are not a breakdown of how the $22,565 from this race will be spent.
Whitehead also told the Landmark that, earlier in 2026, the foundation had raised and given more than $16,000 to local families as scholarships. That is a separate year-to-date figure, distinct from the duck race’s gross revenue. The difference matters because the article reports two stages of the foundation’s work: the money already given for scholarships during the year and the new race revenue raised for the organization. The foundation’s website invites families who need help with park-program fees to ask about financial assistance.
The race’s finish line was a net behind Village Hall; the money’s next steps sit with the foundation. This year brought the most entries and gross revenue it has recorded, and the funds will support a program that helps families take part in local park activities. The record gives organizers one visible measure of participation, while the foundation’s day-to-day work shows why the fundraiser exists.
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