Hundreds of Hartland residents urge board not to build police station, village hall on Hartbrook Park

Dozens of Hartland residents urged the Village Board on July 28 not to place a proposed new police station and village hall on Hartbrook Park, saying the plan would remove valued green space, increase traffic in nearby neighborhoods and displace youth athletics.

The comments followed an earlier presentation and came during the meeting’s public-comment period, when speakers from across the village described daily use of the park, frequent youth baseball and lacrosse activity, and the park’s role on the Ice Age Trail. “We just don’t wanna give up green space,” said Bill Truchill of 634 Hawthorne Lane, one of many residents who asked the board to seek alternative parcels such as the vacant bowling-alley lot or property next to Waukesha State Bank.

The upheaval prompted board members to schedule two informational sessions so residents can review site plans, ask questions and tour facilities. The board set tentative sessions for Aug. 13 and Aug. 20 from 6:05 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., during which staff said they will bring architects, police and fire personnel and other documents about “needs analysis” and site options. “If anybody screwed up in getting it out to the public…put that on me,” President Fannerstil said, acknowledging shortcomings in public notice and promising broader outreach including email lists and website notices.

Why it matters: Hartbrook Park is used daily by local families and recreation leagues; residents said reusing that land for municipal facilities would remove scarce green space and force relocation of organized sports. Several speakers pressed the board to consider sites in the business/industrial park or the long-vacant property at the former bowling-alley site, noting easier access and less impact on nearby homes and on-school traffic.

Residents’ concerns were consistent across commenters: loss of the park’s baseball diamond and pavilion, intensified traffic at school dismissal times on nearby roads, reduced access for seniors and people who rely on nearby parking, and loss of a community recreation resource that, residents said, is already improved and heavily used. “This park has been a big part of our kids growing up,” said Denise Herdan of 11264 Winds Way. Several residents asked the board to move more slowly and broaden outreach before any formal site decision.

Board response and next steps: Village leaders said a multi-year needs analysis — including an architectural/space needs study — supported discussions about replacing or renovating municipal facilities and addressing space constraints in public safety. They said the Police Department’s current layout includes evidence storage and interview space that must meet federal CJIS (criminal justice information) requirements, which complicates ad-hoc fixes. The board did not vote on a location at the July 28 meeting.

The board directed staff to hold the informational sessions and to make records available for review; officials said the meetings will allow residents to tour the existing police facility (with escorts as required for security) and see the conceptual drawings the village has commissioned. Officials also said the village will publish meeting notices on the website and send direct emails to interested residents. Multiple residents said more proactive direct mail and clearer online notices should have been used earlier.

What was not decided: The Village Board did not vote on any land purchase, demolition or construction contract at the meeting. The board said any future purchase, bonding or land-acquisition step would be publicly noticed and subject to later formal action.

Ending: Residents left the July 28 session with a promise of additional sessions and more detail; many said they will attend the Aug. 13 informational session and asked the board to consider alternate town-owned or commercial parcels before any final site decision.