June 16, 2022 at 11:04 a.m.
City highlights site of 'high potential' as skate park plaza study continues
City highlights site of 'high potential' as skate park plaza study continues
"This is a high potential spot, one spot of a couple, a handful of ones that might actually be the location for the skate park," Mayor Kris Hanus said Saturday morning.
Hanus made the statement during a brief event held in conjunction with the Second Saturday in June events (Art on the Courthouse Lawn as well as the car and bike shows) to update the community on the ongoing skate park feasibility study.
"Once that (feasibility study) report goes to council, we can then start doing boots on the ground, make a decision (as to where the park will be located) and this location here is one with high potential," he explained.
Later, Hanus explained that the owner of the property, who he did not name, has expressed a willingness to donate the property this fiscal year. The city has not officially accepted the offer, he added, noting that a decision won't be made until after the feasibility study is complete.
"The hope would be next spring to start groundbreaking somewhere and then hopefully by the following spring have the park finished," he added.
Also present for the event were city administrator Zach Vruwink and several alderpersons.
"Over the last couple of months the community has really shown up to share their feedback and affirm the need for a skate park for our community's youth," Vruwink said.
Alderman Tom Barnett praised the young members of the Over It coalition who conceived the idea for the park and have put considerable effort into making it a reality.
"I couldn't be more proud of them," he said.
In May, the council approved a motion made by Barnett to earmark $75,000 to be put toward the skate park project.
"I think we're at a point that we have to start showing that we're serious about this," Barnett said at the time.
The skate park project has been steadily gaining momentum over the course of the last year.
Representatives of the Over It coalition first reached out to the council in March 2021 seeking support for the idea of constructing a new park.
The teens said that skateboarding is becoming increasingly popular among local youth and a skate park would be an open, safe space for them to get together.
"It's a designated place for us to be," Grant Garrow of Over It told the council last year. "Instead of being all over town, we could be in one area (that's) safe and where everybody knows where we are."
The teens noted that they are aware Rhinelander once had a skate park located behind the fire department and that plans for adding a skateboarding area to Hodag Park were removed when the final park plan was approved by the council.
After a second presentation was made in April 2021, members of the council expressed support for the skate park idea and advised the group to keep working toward their goal.
On Dec. 27, two weeks after representatives of Over It spoke to the alderpersons regarding an update on the project, the council passed a resolution specifically pledging to "commit staff resources to assist with preplanning" and, later in the process, meet with the Over It coalition to discuss the funding, construction, ownership, operation, and liability for the park.
In February, the council approved a proposal from ArtStart, a local nonprofit focused on the arts and cultural engagement, to facilitate the feasibility study. Since then, two community-wide listening sessions have been held in conjunction with the study and a third is planned for July.
A final report on the study, to include recommendations, is expected to be presented to the council by late July.
A donation campaign to support the park is also planned, according to Hanus.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.