DDA Wants To Upgrade Park Features
Downtown Plan Proposed
By Karen Gould

Replacing pathway lights at American Legion Park, some of which were recently vandalized, replacing a deteriorating limestone path at the park, adding swingsets, and adding a brick walkway over the grass are among projects the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would like to see put in a five-year plan that will guide downtown upgrades. The request for the plan came at the authority's Friday, July 11, meeting following discussions on park upkeep projects and boardwalk signs that need refurbishing.

The five-year plan is being prepared by Deb Evashevski, DDA director, and will be presented at the board's August meeting, and some of the projects are expected to be completed this year.

Projects the authority discussed include replacing the deteriorating limestone pathway at American Legion Park on State Street. Also, Mrs. Evashevski said visitors have worn a new trail in the grass and she suggested a brick walkway be added.

The rainy weather this year, she said, has kept the grass green at the park, although usually by now it is browning. She suggested the board consider adding a sprinkling system at least around the flag area at the park.

Pathway lights were vandalized at American Legion Park about a week ago, Mrs. Evashevski told the board, and need to be replaced. No arrests have been made, yet, and the cost to replace the seven damaged lights is estimated at $2,000.

The lights, which have plastic parts, are not as durable as the new lights along the boardwalk leading to Wawatam Lighthouse. To replace all 20 lights at American Legion Park would cost between $15,000 and $20,000. The suggestion will be considered by the board this year.

The DDA also would like to add swingsets to the park just north of the existing playground equipment. Requests for the swings have come from local families.

Signs along the older sections of the boardwalk should be replaced, said Mrs. Evashevski. Some signs have received minor damage and they are showing age.

Several trees along State Street downtown need to be replaced, she told the board, and based on earlier requests from authority members, she is looking into pricing for lights for the trees. The idea, she said, would be to put lights on trees between Goudreau and Truckey streets.

Also under consideration for the five-year plan will be replacing the lamp posts downtown. They are not durable, said Mrs. Evashevski, and are easily damaged.

The board agreed to fund the purchase of a commercial snowblower with tracks, not chains, to protect the wooden docks at the marina, and authorized up to $2,500 for the machine. The snowblower will be used at the marina and maintained and operated by marina workers. Gene Elmer, DDA chair and harbor director. made the request. The weight of the snow on marina docks requires removal. When crews clear the marina area, he said, they would clear snow from the boardwalk leading to Wawatam Lighthouse. The authority agreed people were walking over snow banks last winter to reach the lighthouse, and clearing the boardwalk would be a benefit to the community.

Following the meeting, the authority members toured the Museum of Ojibwa Culture to see work completed on the interior of the building. The DDA has been overseeing the relocation of the gift shop, interior painting, and work on the building's windows.

The DDA tentatively set a special meeting for Monday, July 25, at 8 a.m. to receive a report on the 171-year-old former church building's exterior from historic preservationist Frank Pompa.

The DDA's next regular meeting is Friday, August 8, at 8 a.m. in council chambers in City Hall.