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Mayor: ICON offer would leave about 1 acre for Oppenlander park; full purchase could cost $8–9 million
Summary
Mayor Roy Bialososki told the Parks Board that ICON's latest proposal for the Oppenlander site would likely secure only about one acre for park use versus the community's desired 10 acres, and that buying the full 10 acres would cost roughly $8–9 million and require voter approval.
Mayor Roy Bialososki briefed the board on ongoing negotiations with ICON and the school district over the Oppenlander site, describing a range of proposals and timing options.
"The latest proposal that came in was for, like, about a 1 acre park. A lot less than the 10 acres that folks wanted, but...buying all 10 acres is gonna be about 8 to $9,000,000 plus all the ongoing maintenance," Bialososki said, framing the financial trade-offs under consideration.
Bialososki said ICON has been flexible on timing — the city could pursue funding in November or possibly wait until the following May — and emphasized that any purchase of school property would likely require voter approval. Board members suggested integrating the Oppenlander conversation into broader bond and levy planning so voters get a coordinated package rather than piecemeal requests.
The mayor also suggested packaging smaller, cost-effective improvements (for example a pavilion and food vendors at an existing city-owned music-in-the-park site) as part of community-engagement messaging to help build support for larger investments.
