Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parks director outlines clubhouse ADA work, ARPA-funded restroom upgrades and ice-arena grant uncertainty
Summary
Parks staff reported ADA upgrades to Athletic Park clubhouse, ARPA-funded restroom work, a temporary mat solution for an ice rink, partial grant reimbursements tied to a bridal grant, and progress on an office move and a proposed beer-garden ordinance.
Parks staff briefed the committee on facility and program updates on April 7, including ADA improvements, ongoing ARPA-funded restroom work, a temporary ice-rink mat solution and uncertainty about a grant for a larger ice-arena project.
Jamie said the department is renovating the Athletic Park clubhouse to make restrooms and clubhouse spaces ADA-compliant and to reconfigure locker/cubby space and flooring ahead of the spring season. Similar ADA restroom updates are planned at the 9 Mile site; those improvements are funded with ARPA dollars the city allocated to parks projects.
At Marathon Park, Jamie said the department has procured a temporary mat system to provide ice surface access as an interim fix for a few years while longer-term options are assessed. Jamie also said the department received preliminary notice from Wisconsin Emergency Management that a bridal grant the county had applied for—intended to support an ice-arena study and possible construction—had been affected by more recent federal guidance and that the county had been reimbursed for about half of the grant so far; staff were awaiting further details from state and federal partners.
Jamie also said the Parks and Recreation offices are moving to a basement location (entrance off Garfield) and that the move would be completed the week of the meeting. On event policy, Jamie said staff are drafting an ordinance with the city attorney’s office to allow the department to consider beer gardens and will take that draft through county review and the public health and safety process.
Committee members asked for updates on timeline and reimbursement details for the ice-arena grant and commended staff for progress on facility accessibility work. No formal action was taken; staff will return with additional information as state and county grant authorities provide clarification.
