Campaign Kickoff
Join us from 6-8:00pm to officially kick off our public fundraising campaign. Tour the property, hear from kids in the Adventure Team program and learn more about the impact and goals of Gluski Park.
Building a Community Trailhead
for Outdoor Adventure
Exploring mental health outcome variables in outdoor adventure and experiential education, showed that youth participants reported more resilience and less anxiety, depression, and hopelessness after an outdoor adventure education experience, as reported in a study conducted in 2024 by Davidson & Ewert.
OUR STORY
WHAT WE'RE BUILDING
WAYS TO GIVE
DONORS
IMPACT
OUR STORY
906 Adventure Team purchased 955 N. Lakeshore Boulevard in 2023 after a development group attempted to build a hotel. The community spoke up and they didn’t want a hotel. Community opposition put the property on our radar. We knew we found our home. We knew we had to protect the green space for the community.
In 2023, at the time of purchase, 906 Adventure Team had two full time employees, Todd Poquette, who started the organization in 2014 and Tara Gluski. Todd and Tara began to dream of what the space could become and they kept landing on the same conclusion, it needed to be a park. A place for people to be active. A space to build community. A place for bikers, hikers, and runners, for people of all ages to recreate together and to see each other as people, not another “user group.”
Being located in the heart of Marquette’s east side is critical. Gluski Park is a space built right into the fabric of the neighborhood—connected, visible, impossible to ignore. Todd and Tara joked that if people weren’t ready or prepared for adventure, they were going to bring it to them and drop it in their backyard. Because they knew the community needed this. It’s what 906 Adventure Team was built on. Providing opportunities for people to become the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure – and this park, this space could only amplify that mission and the number of kids and families impacted.
And then, 906AT lost Tara in a tragic auto accident in January 2024. The loss rocked the 906AT Community to its core. But the same community that Tara helped build and believed so deeply in has emerged from that tragedy even more determined to make this park and Tara’s dream a reality. It’s why 906AT is naming the space Gluski Park – to honor her and to keep the mission at the forefront of all it becomes.
We are building this park for everyone. Gluski Park is a space where we can put aside polarizing identities and focus on our identity as a community. It’s a place to bring people together – to ride your bike, take a walk, have a picnic, play together and get to know someone you’ve never met. It’s a place to teach kids the value of doing hard things and adventuring outside.
Take action with us. Work together with us. Join us in focusing on where we want to go and who we want to become.
WHAT WE'RE BUILDING
What We’re Building
This space is designed with intention—for movement, connection, and growth.
- Open spaces for gathering and community events
- Accessible pathways so everyone can experience the park
- Providing a space where every child gets a chance to discover the best version of themselves
- Trail features for progression and play
- A pump track for all skill levels
- Open spaces for gathering and community events
- Community Pavilion, picnic tables and benches
- Rain gardens and native grasses, flowers, and trees
ADVENTURE YOUR WAY
- ADA walking path around the perimeter of the park
- Community pavilion, picnic tables, and benches
- Rain gardens, native grasses, flowers, and trees
- Welcome kiosk and donor wall
- Marquette’s first paved pump track open to the public
- The Hub – a central feature with progressive and technical trails
WAYS TO GIVE
Help Us Build Gluski Park
We’re ready to get started but we can’t do it alone.
This is a community-built space, and we’re inviting you to be part of it from the ground up.
Our goal: Raise $2.1 million by 9.06.27
Every dollar raised directly supports the development of trails, features, and spaces designed for kids, families, and the entire community.
Raised so far: $1,224,436.00
Goal: $2,100,00.00
Leading by Example
Whether you decide to give and be a part of the Donor Wall with a plaque or give in a larger way – we have a number of ways you’ll be recognized for your contribution and impact on the project. Be a part of what gets built here!
Tier 1: Community Supporter ($250)
A small plaque (2×3) on the donor wall
12 characters (includes spaces) 2 lines
Tier 2: Trail Builder ($500)
A medium plaque (4×6)
12 characters (includes spaces) 2 lines
Tier 3: Legacy Donor ($1,000)
A large plaque (6×9) with premium placement
14 characters (includes spaces) 3 lines
Build Community Partner ($250,000 – $499,999)
Break Trail Partner ($100,000 – $249,000)
Service Before Self Partner ($25,000 – $99,999)
Doing Hard Things Partner ($10,000 – $24,999)
Find Your Limits Partner ($1,000 – $9,999)
DONORS
Leading the Adventure Partner ($800,000+)
DJK Foundation
Build Community Partner ($250,000 – $499,999)
Break Trail Partner ($100,000 – $249,000)
Great Lakes Sports Commission
Innovate Mqt
Service Before Self Partner ($25,000 – $99,999)
Eagle Mine
Shiras Institute
Upper Peninsula Health Plan
Anonymous Donor
Doing Hard Things Partner ($10,000 – $24,999)
Rod and Holly Aldrich
Marquette Rotary
Community Foundation of Marquette County
Find Your Limits Partner ($1,000 – $9,999)
Range Bank
Michael Cohn
Thomas Ryan
Steve and Sandy Marshall
Pat & Bruce Olson
UPPCO
Acrisure
Dave Kalishek
Barry Johnson
Seth Heimermann
Leading By Example PARTNER ($250 – $999)
Ryan Hlvatay
Gluski Park Partner ($1 – $249)
Abigail Wyche
Ryan Leach
Matthew Lillie
Jake Geiger
Valerie Witte
Alison Ladd
Teresa ScottEtter
Tammy Joy Warner
John Engel
Kathleen Potempa
IMPACT
1.2 M
Money Raised
2.1 M
Goal
12
Businesses, Organizations & Foundations
22
Individual Donors
May 2026
2027
Project Groundbreaking
Phase 1:
• Trail Infrastructure
• Pump Track
• Park Kiosk
• Parking Lot Enhancements
Construction Continues
Phase 2:
• Community Pavilion
• Storage Shed
• Final Landscaping
• Donor Wall
Project Complete
Phase 3:
• Pay off the mortgage
• Secure 906AT into the future
CELEBRATE GLUSKI PARK
Join us as we celebrate a successful and meaningful campaign. Marking over four years of dedication and commitment to the community and the 906 Adventure Team mission. Details to be released closer to the event.
There is No Finish Line
Building Gluski Park isn’t the end of a story… It’s the beginning of a new chapter. For years, I’ve listened to people wax poetically about how we need to look at “Bentonville.” But why? We live in Marquette. We need to tell Marquette’s story, and Gluski Park will be part of that, and you can help us build it.
I am a big believer that doers do what they can. Twelve years ago I took a job (906AT) without knowing if I’d even get paid. Enbridge, one of our biggest supporters early on, helped build a bicycle playground in Tourist Park, supported the rollout of Midland and Iron River, and purchased us a couple trailers. The Daniel J Kobasic Foundation has stepped up with an incredible $800,000 commitment. Innovate Marquette is investing in youth programming ($100,000). Of course, we cannot forget to mention, Great Lakes Sports Commission, the original project donor ($150,000) & many more people who have stepped up, or will in the coming days.
You might be in a position to contribute a significant gift, or maybe it’s a smaller donation. Maybe your contribution will be your time, after Gluski is built and we need to take care of it. What I’m trying to say is that there are a lot of ways to give, some of them large and some that are small, and they all matter. We do what we can… When we can. Some people will have their name on a building, pavilion, a rain garden, or maybe the wall. Some will ask that we don’t put their name on anything. If each of us does what we can… the project will get done. I believe in Marquette. I believe we’ll embrace this for the opportunity it is… we’ll get er’ done… and when it’s all over it won’t be about who gave the most… it will be about what matters most… building a place that was built to give kids a chance… and for that… there will never be a finish line
Todd Poquette
Director of Adventure
