Proposed structure will replace outdated equipment in Sunset Park
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted unanimously in favor of dedicating about $98,000 to a new ADA-friendly play structure in Sunset Park.
Elkhorn’s Municipal Services and Utilities Committee reviewed three proposals for the new play structure at its June 23 meeting, at which time Public Works Manager Martin Nuss and Parks and Recreation Director Wendy Ard both recommended Option 1 from Gerber Leisure Products, Inc. A motion was passed by the committee to recommend the council award the project to the company.
To erect the new play equipment, which is designed to be more accessible for disabled patrons, it will cost the city $98,366 in total.
According to City Administrator Sam Tapson, these funds will come from a dedicated park fund that currently has about $98,000 in it. It was noted at an April meeting of the committee that the funds in the account had to be used within an allotted time, this being the seventh year of a seven-year time allotment.
At that time, Mayor Brian Olson said as the funds were already set aside for park projects, the city wouldn’t have to resort to borrowing or a tax increase to cover the cost of the upgrade to the park.
Olson said during the committee meeting that Elkhorn’s Parks and Recreation Committee had returned to the project numerous times, viewing it as a need for the community, while trying to determine how the park funds would be used before they went to waste.
In planning the new park, Olson said during the April meeting that the proposed designs look at numerous uses, with wheelchair accessibility being a large component. In addition, he noted the park would also feature universal features so non-ADA children could go and play as well, allowing everyone to interact with each other.
A motion was made by Alderman Gary Payson, Sr., to single-source through Gerber Leisure products for a total of $98,366 to remove the old play structure and construct the new ADA-friendly structure. Alderman Hoss Rehberg seconded Payson’s motion.
Alderman James D’Alessandro asked councilmen during the meeting would happen to the current equipment standing in the park.
“I know there’s a couple places in the city that are doing fundraising for new playground equipment,” he said.
Nuss clarified that the new play structure would not be replacing the structures outside of the Recreation building, but the old, wooden structure near the volleyball courts.
“It needs to come down, it’s not safe, it can’t be used anywhere else,” he said.
The Council approved the motion unanimously.
In prior discussions regarding the park, the Municipal Services and Utilities Committee took several items into consideration including the structure’s impact on the community and a timeline for when it would be built.
Payson had said that while working for Walworth County, the students and young adults at the Lakeland School were always given “the shove for something else.”
Being that Lakeland School is not only a part of the Elkhorn community, but a larger community, Payson said he felt it would send a good message if the city took steps to provide better equipment. Olson agreed and said he views it as having more of a regional impact.
When it came to constructing the play structure, Olson had said previously that the city should focus on completing the structure in conjunction with other upgrades to the park this summer in order to avoid being a “bad neighbor.”
Check the caption with the picture. It clearly says in the article that they are tearing down the wood structure. The picture is NOT of the wood structure.