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Cottage Grove to remove Bakken Park playground, salvage materials; Community Park shelter deferred
Summary
Trustees agreed to remove the Bakken Park playground and fund its removal from park-development fees, with an emphasis on salvaging materials for reuse. The board removed the Community Park shelter A&E line from the 2026 budget and directed parks to seek fundraising partners for optional amenities such as pickleball windscreens.
COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. — After questions about cost and storage, the Cottage Grove Village Board agreed Oct. 27 to remove the existing playground at Bakken Park and to fund the removal from park development fees, with staff instructed to salvage reusable parts for future community use.
Parks director Sean told trustees the village estimated $25,000 to $35,000 to remove the playground depending on scope; staff and trustees emphasized the village's intent to salvage usable equipment and materials and to store them at Bakken Park for reuse on smaller projects or with volunteer groups. Trustee Paula and others pressed for a plan and timely reuse rather than storing materials indefinitely.
The removal ties to a Miracle League playground fundraising plan: earlier board action approved a $125,000 park improvement agreement with the Miracle League for a new accessible playground, with the village responsible for the playground's removal once Miracle League fundraising is complete. Staff said the village will not remove the existing playground until Miracle League has raised its project funds.
Trustees also debated a proposed Community Park shelter. The board had included $115,000 for architectural and engineering design work in a preliminary capital list; several trustees recommended deferring that A&E funding for 2026 and resuming discussion during the next prioritization. Trustees expressed interest in revisiting the shelter scope and timing and whether accessibility upgrades or smaller life-extension repairs are appropriate if the replacement is pushed out.
On smaller parks items, the board agreed to remove a $15,000 pickleball windscreens request from the 2026 budget and encouraged the local pickleball advisory group to pursue a fundraising match if members want the improvement.
Administration said, after these adjustments and the Bakken removal expenditure, park development funds will retain a restricted balance for certain donor-directed projects and $50,000–$75,000 in unrestricted funds. Trustees asked staff to return any clarified funding and storage plans ahead of the Nov. 17 public hearing on the preliminary budget.
