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Pleasant Prairie parks commission keeps Park Drive one-way to preserve event parking
Summary
The Parks Commission voted to retain the one-way traffic circulation on Park Drive around Lake Andrea, rejecting operator requests to restore two‑way access because staff found no evidence the change would increase beer garden attendance and converting the roadway would reduce 35–76 on-street spaces.
The Pleasant Prairie Parks Commission voted to keep the one-way traffic circulation on Park Drive around Lake Andrea after hearing options that would trade on-street parallel parking for closer access to the Lake Andrea beer garden.
Commission members reviewed a staff report summarizing a 5/22/2023 Village Board resolution that created a one-way segment to allow additional parallel parking for the beer garden and adjacent festival grounds. Staff presented three options: remove the one-way from the Ruck Pavilion to the southern Park Drive entrance (losing about 35 spaces); remove the one-way entirely (losing about 76 spaces); or keep the current configuration (losing zero spaces).
The commission considered a request submitted to staff on 6/12/2024 by beer garden operator Mike Knold asking that the village reconsider the one-way designation so patrons coming from the north ball fields and boat launch could park closer to the beer garden. Knold's proposal, the staff report said, would make parking more convenient for north-end visitors but would also eliminate existing parallel spaces that the village added as a short-term solution when budget constraints prevented construction of a paved lot.
During discussion commissioners noted the beer garden season runs through Labor Day and questioned whether changing traffic circulation for a brief portion of the season would measurably increase attendance. Staff told the commission that, based on prior event usage and available data, there was "no valid proof that removing the one-way would increase activity at the beer garden" and recommended no changes at this time.
A commissioner moved to select option 3 — leave the one-way traffic circulation as it exists — and another commissioner seconded. The commission voted in favor, and the motion carried. Staff said it will forward the Parks Commission recommendation to the Village Board for final consideration and noted that if the board adopts a change it must determine who will pay the conversion costs.
The decision preserves approximately 76 on-street parallel parking spaces that staff said are currently used regularly for larger events such as triathlons, harbor markets and open-water swims. Staff also suggested event-specific solutions — including temporary diagonal markings, use of off-site parking with bus shuttles, or seasonal circulation changes — as alternatives if parking demand or safety concerns become acute.
The commission's action leaves operational and financial details of any future change to the Village Board and to the party who requests conversion; staff emphasized that any reconfiguration would carry costs and a loss of spaces that must be balanced against access benefits.
