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Ashwaubenon parks board leans toward Marina Trail, readies large NRDA restoration and court repairs for 2027 budget
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Board prioritized the Marina Trail for 2027 while beginning preparations for larger intergovernmental work on the Packerland Trail, approved NRDA grant design work for a $2.6 million Ashwaubomay/Dutchman’s Creek restoration, and discussed court patching versus full rehab.
The Village of Ashwaubenon Parks and Recreation Board on May 19 began setting project priorities for the parks 2027 PRF budget, recommending the Marina Trail as the top candidate for next year while initiating planning for more complex, higher‑cost projects such as the Packerland Trail.
Rex, the parks director, told the board that contractors’ cost estimates will be collected over the summer for inclusion in the fall budget process and that some 2026 projects remain unfinished, which affects timing for 2027 work. He described two trail candidates: the Marina Trail (easier to complete because it does not require intergovernmental agreements) and the Packerland Trail (a higher‑use corridor that will involve Hobart, Brown County and tribal coordination). “Packerland Trail needs it more than the River Trail just because of the use that’s on it,” one board member said, but others favored the Marina Trail for 2027 to allow time to resolve jurisdictional issues.
The board also discussed repairs and potential rehabilitation of two court complexes. Rex said Smith and Canterbury courts are roughly 20–21 years old and recommended a patching job for Smith Park to extend service for several years; a full rehabilitation would require grinding and replacement of asphalt and reset of standards and fencing and could be substantially more expensive.
On restoration work, Rex said the village finalized language with the Department of Natural Resources and directed Stantec to prepare bid specifications for a National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) grant project valued at about $2.6 million. The plan would include fish shoals, buckthorn removal, pollinator gardens and shoreline work near Ashwaubomay and Dutchman’s Creek. Rex said the NRDA funding would be administered by the village with no local match and that the work is likely to begin design and bidding now and start construction in 2027.
Board members discussed staging: completing the Marina Trail in 2027 would allow staff to “get some of our ducks in a row” and start intergovernmental discussions on the larger Packerland effort without rushing it into the next fiscal year. Brown County’s connection work to the county fairgrounds is expected to begin this fall, which factors into scheduling and connectivity for both Marina and Packerland trail projects.
No formal project approvals were taken; staff were directed to collect cost estimates and return with budget numbers for administration and the village board to consider during the 2027 budget process.
What’s next: Staff will solicit contractor quotes this summer and return with preliminary budget figures and timeline recommendations for the village board and finance committee.
