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Residents offer labor and donations as Lake Mills board explores converting Favville Park volleyball courts to basketball
Summary
Board discussed resident offers of free labor and equipment and an approximate out-of-pocket cost of about $20,000 to convert Favville Park's sand volleyball courts to a basketball court; staff said no budget is currently available and suggested grant or council budget amendment options.
Lake Mills Parks Board members discussed a community-led proposal on Dec. 8 to replace Favville Park's sand volleyball courts with a basketball court and the near-term funding path to make it happen.
Jacob Slavi, who said a local contractor friend offered free labor and equipment, relayed the volunteer estimate: "the concrete cost about $16,000. The basketball hoops cost four to five (thousand) depending on what exact hoops we need," and with supplies the rough total discussed was about $20,000. Slavi said the volunteer contractor estimated two days of work for removal and placement of a new surface.
Drake, parks staff, told the board there is no line item for that project in the current operating budget and that the city would need either committed private contributions or a council amendment to the capital budget to proceed this year. He also noted an outside grant program (Pat Conington Foundation) that has funded basketball court projects in other Wisconsin communities; the application cycle missed the current window for next year but could be an option for later funding.
Board members discussed surface options (asphalt versus concrete), ongoing maintenance costs, and whether community use justifies the conversion. Mary Schmeagger and others said the board should verify local demand and consider whether temporary baskets on the existing sand surface would be a short-term test while seeking estimates for asphalt.
Next steps: staff will seek cost estimates (asphalt vs. concrete), confirm whether private donations can be pledged, and if appropriate the parks board will consider a recommendation to city council for a budget amendment or a grant application in the next cycle.
