Oshkosh parks board backs Quarry Park master plan, sends recommendation to Plan Commission and Common Council

The Oshkosh City Advisory Parks Board voted to recommend a preferred master plan for Quarry Park to the Plan Commission and Common Council after a presentation by the project consultant and neighborhood input.

John Kinnear, president with Rettler Corporation, told the board the plan responds to the site's history as a former quarry and landfill and is intended "as a guide for future development. It's not anything set in stone here." The consultant presented two concept alternatives and a preferred concept developed from neighborhood meetings and a National Night Out display.

The preferred concept centers on a reinforced central gathering area with stone outcroppings that reference the site's quarry history, looped walking paths, native-plant habitat zones outside the documented landfill boundary and slab-mounted amenities such as picnic tables and musical play instruments. Kinnear said the design avoids deep foundations in areas covered by the landfill cap and limits plantings where roots could penetrate the cap.

The plan includes geotechnical and permitting steps before construction. Kinnear said the project team has consulted the consultant that prepared the site's closure documents and is aware of gas vent pipes and monitoring wells around the fill area. He said the next step is engineering to determine how those features interact with proposed elements, and that a post-closure landfill modification permit and standard stormwater and erosion-control permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be required.

Cost estimates for the preferred master plan totaled $521,370, broken into categories the consultant described as earthwork and demolition, utilities, native seating and habitat areas, walking trails, play and musical equipment, other amenities, soft costs, contingency and geotechnical survey costs.

Neighbors who attended supported the preferred concept while raising implementation concerns. Resident Lori Buzzkirk, who said her property borders the park, described strong neighborhood support for planting and other improvements: "We have gotten so much positive reaction from people who live in the neighborhood, people driving by." Another neighbor asked about soil compaction and methane monitoring; the consultant said the design strategy is to "tread lightly," use geotextile or geogrid and slab-on-grade mounting for equipment rather than deep foundations, and to follow geotechnical recommendations for pavement profiles and slab anchors.

Board members moved and seconded a recommendation to advance the preferred concept to the Plan Commission and Common Council. The board conducted a voice vote with Board member Davis, Board member Flom, Board member Mets, Board member Franz and Board member Steve Herman recorded as voting aye. The board announced the motion will go forward as a positive recommendation to the Plan Commission and Common Council.

Plan Commission and Common Council review are the next formal steps; the consultant and staff said further engineering and permitting will determine a construction timetable and final scope.