Village reports Argonne Park boardwalk installation complete, neighborhood trail open

The Village of Ashwaubenon Park and Recreation Board was told Tuesday that installation of a new boardwalk at Argonne Park is complete and the feature is open for neighborhood use. Parks staff said the boardwalk runs east–west at the northern end of the park off Argonne Street and loops through woods where staff recently cleared buckthorn and dead ash trees.

Parks staff described the structure as similar to the boardwalk at Sherwood Forest and said the surface becomes a crusher-dust trail once it leaves the wetland area on village property. “It's more for the neighborhood and for the people walking, walking their dogs, just getting out to get some fresh air exercise,” the staff member said, adding it was not designed as a destination trail.

The board heard that crews built crusher-dust approaches at both ends of the boardwalk and installed a couple of benches. Staff said the approaches currently are covered in straw for establishment and use clay and crusher-dust rather than wood ramps. The area around the boardwalk is temporarily open because of tree removal; staff said the plan over the next year or two is to reforest the site with shrubs and trees to restore a woodsy feel.

Board members asked about the look and materials for the approaches and expressed support for replanting to screen the cleared area. One board member noted concern about the park's remaining mature trees — “my worry is that they will be the last tree standing along with the silver maples,” the member said — and urged caution before removing nuisance species.

Staff encouraged residents to visit the boardwalk and said crews will finish final surface work and landscaping over coming months.