The Parks and Recreation Committee met 04/08/2024. As an information item, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Dean Gazza provided them an update on various ongoing park-related projects.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
LUTZ PARK SHORELINE EROSION RESTORATION AND TRAIL PROJECT – The committee approved a $90,000 contract for design and construction management services for this project back in February. The design is now complete and bidding on the project is scheduled for later this month. This project will provide a trail through the park that runs beside the road versus the existing trail that runs along the shoreline. Director Gazza noted that if a bicyclist slips on the existing trailing it would be pretty easy for them to end up with the water because there is no barricade.
Regarding the shoreline erosion restoration portion of the project, Director Gazza said that the DNR required there to be more of a shoreline similar to what was done by the Yacht Club.
MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELD SURFACE RECONSTRUCTION – Goodwill has paid 100% of the cost of that project, and it will be completed in June.
LUNDGAARD PARK DEVELOPMENT – Everything that could be done during the winter has been done, including the trails and sports courts. The playground equipment will be installed as well as the rubberized surface around the playground.
Director Gazza said that they received a large donation toward the cost of the pavilion so they were finalizing a pavilion design concept before going out for a bid. Costs, however, continue to escalate [I took this to be because of the economy not because of anything the city was doing], and they were worried about that. They may need some additional funding before they can actually go out for bids on the pavilion project, but they were close.
BOARDWALK FROM YACHT CLUB TO VULCAN HERITAGE PARK – The city was performing a feasibility study. Because of the location and the fact that the boardwalk will extend into the water, they need to get approval from the DNR, the railroad, and the Corp of Engineers. The railroad was the toughest entity to get approval from. A while back, the project had been permitted by the DNR but only at 5 feet wide; however, a usable trail that people can ride bikes on should be a minimum of 8 feet wide, preferable 10 feet. Additionally, the railroad was generally opposed to anything that would intrude on their property, so the city may have to extend the boardwalk out completely into the water in the area along railroad land.
The city viewed this project as one part of a larger plan to hopefully one day provide a connection all along the riverfront from Lutz up to Ballard.
COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN UPDATE – This will be completed by the end of 2024. The city is required to update it every 5 years in order to be able to apply for DNR grants.
APPLETON CONSERVANCY MASTER PLAN – City staff hopes to have this completed by July of 2024. This would provide a concept for the property and help them plan for the installation of some natural trails which would help the area be more usable for individuals. Additionally, there were groups such as land trust representatives that were interested in participating in things like cleanup events there.
PEABODY PARK TRAIL REPAVEMENT PROJECT – That project will start this month. This project had been approved by the Common Council back in February.
During that Council meeting, Alderperson Alex Schultz (District 9) had asked about the state of the seawall along that park even though the reconstruction of that wall was not part of the trail reconstruction project. He asked about that again during the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting. Per Director Gazza, the project was likely a couple years out due to budgeting constraints. They could simply rebuild the wall, but they would prefer to, at the time it was rebuilt, also install a trail and kayak launch which would be more expensive but would also provide some usable amenities.
The existing wall was not at a critical point, and even if it does deteriorate to the point it starts falling down it will not collapse all at once. The city will be able to monitor its deterioration and respond in time.
TELULAH PARK LARGE PAVILION RENOVATIONS – The pavilion is getting new pain, kitchen renovations, and ADA upgrades. That work will happen this year.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1167643&GUID=C567678C-50FA-4998-BA79-F620FE51B719
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