Public Works - Park Board Sub-Committee

Public Works - Park Board Sub- Committee Meeting Agenda Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Minutes from March 18, 2026 Park Board Meeting 2-4 Park Board - 18 Mar 2026 - Minutes 6. BUSINESS a. Public Works Committee / Park Board Structure Update 5 Memo: Public Works Committee / Park Board Structure Update b. Roof Replacements 6 Memo: Roof Replacements c. Freedom Park Prairie Restoration 7 - 10 Memo: Freedom Park Prairie Restoration 7. CLOSED SESSION Closed Session per Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. a. Potential Sale of City-Owned Property in Business & Technical Park: Land on the west side of Madison Avenue; Parcel IDs 261-1070-44-090, 261-1070-45- 007, and 261-1070-44-800. 8. OPEN SESSION - ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA 9. AGENDA TOPICS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS a. Citizens Field b. Fox Run Park c. Willowind Parkland 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS 11. ADJOURNMENT  Park Board Meeting Minutes 5:30 PM - Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Council Chambers The Park Board of the City of New Richmond was called to order on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 5:30 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Craig Kittel, Jon Hailey, Dave Newman, Krista Miller, Anthony Howe, Jim Zajkowski ABSENT: Megan Kliszcz OTHERS Jeff Dionisopoulos, Noah Wiedenfeld PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Jim Zajkowski moved to adopt the agenda. The motion was seconded by Jon Hailey and carried unanimously via voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Craig Kittel moved to adopt the meeting minutes from February 25, 2026 as presented. The motion was seconded by Anthony Howe and carried unanimously via voice vote. BUSINESS FREEDOM PARK SIGN The Freedom Park Center, Inc. is interested in displaying signage on an existing structure in Freedom Park along the east side of Wall Street, which previously displayed a sign for what was once called Hatfield Lake Regional Park. A proof has not yet been prepared, but Scott Counter explained that the purpose of the sign is to help educate and inform the community about the building, as many people don't know what is being constructed, and it would contain information such as a phone number or website for people to learn more about the project. The sign would also have information about the local senior organization, which will be known as Prairie Oasis. Scott indicated that it's possible the building could be completed in the spring of 2028, and the intention would be for the sign to remain until the building is completed and permanent signage is installed. The sign would be installed and removed by a contracted sign company. In general, the Park Board was supportive of the concept Park Board Meeting March 18, 2026 given that the structure has not been used for several years, but questioned whether the location of the sign would be effective for the Freedom Park Center given that the building is quite a distance away from the sign (1,200 feet) and when traveling north on Wall Street, the sign is located beyond the entrance to Freedom Park. The Park Board felt that any signage that is displayed on the structure should be for users of Freedom Park, rather than using the structure as a billboard for any organization or business advertisements. The Park Board expressed a desire to have additional discussion on the topic and to see a picture of what the proposed signage from the Freedom Park Center, Inc. would potentially look like before making a recommendation. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - FOCUSED PARKS: DOG PARK, FOX RUN PARK, PAPERJACK PARK Jeff Dionisopoulos reviewed the classifications, rankings, and potential improvements for the Dog Park, Fox Run Park, and Paperjack Park. The Dog Park is overall in good condition. In the future, new benches could be installed and the parking lot could be improved. Fox Run Park has been discussed for many years, and the Park Board expressed the importance of installing the amenities that were previously approved for Fox Run Park back in April of 2023, which included a shade structure, benches, picnic tables, bike rack, garbage can, and dog waste station. The Park Board discussed developing a phased master plan for the park, and the importance of planning ahead if future development occurs on the north side of Fox Run Park. Paperjack Park has seen some recent upgrades in the past year, so while the park is a medium priority, the park receives a lot of use from the community and could benefit from a playground replacement (current playground equipment is 24 years old), installation of a drinking fountain, and prairie restoration on the south side of the Paperjack Creek. RELOCATION OF ICE SKATING RINK Noah Wiedenfeld discussed the potential relocation of the existing ice skating rink, which is currently located on School District property near the intersection of STH 65 and E 11th Street. No formal action was taken, but the Park Board expressed support for exploring new locations for the ice skating rink, including the new library, Glover Park, Mary Park, and/or North Side Park. ARMED SERVICES MEMORIAL - VICTORIA PARK Noah Wiedenfeld provided some background information regarding the Armed Services Memorial at Victoria Park. The Memorial is now over 25 years old, and some of the engraved blocks are showing their age and are in worsening condition. A financial investment will be required at some point to restore the Memorial, beyond routine cleaning and maintenance, and the continued sale of the engraved blocks should be evaluated. No action was required by the Park Board at this time, but staff wanted to bring awareness to the Memorial as the Park Board works through the process of updating the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. RECOGNITION OF CRAIG KITTEL AND JIM ZAJKOWSKI The Park Board and staff expressed appreciation to Craig Kittel and Jim Zajkowski for their many years of service on the Park Board and their commitment for the local parks and trails system. Craig and Jim are not running for re-election to the City Council this spring, so this was their final meeting as members of the Park Board. AGENDA TOPICS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS None Park Board Meeting March 18, 2026 ANNOUNCEMENTS None ADJOURNMENT Jon Hailey moved at 7:15 pm to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Craig Kittel and carried unanimously via voice vote. Park Board Meeting March 18, 2026  MEMO Prepared for: Park Board Staff Contact: Noah Wiedenfeld Meeting: Public Works - Park Board Sub-Committee - 05 Aug 2026 Subject: Public Works Committee / Park Board Structure Update BACKGROUND INFORMATION: For the past few months, there has been discussion about potential restructuring or changes to the composition of some of the City's boards and commissions, including the Public Works Committee and Park Board. The City Council has decided to have a 7-person Park Board and a 5-person Infrastructure Board. The Park Board will primarily focus on the parks and trails system, and the Infrastructure Board will primarily focus on streets, sidewalks, alleys, etc. Occasionally, these two boards will conduct joint meetings as one large Public Works Committee to talk about projects or initiatives of mutual interest. One of the Council members, Scott Grady, will serve as the chairperson of each board and attend all meetings to help with improved communication. The Park Board will continue to have two alderpersons, one representative from the School District of New Richmond, and four citizens. The Infrastructure Board will consist of two alderpersons and three citizens. No action is required - this update is for informational purposes only.  MEMO Prepared for: Park Board Staff Contact: Noah Wiedenfeld Meeting: Public Works - Park Board Sub-Committee - 05 Aug 2026 Subject: Roof Replacements BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Following a hail storm in 2025, the City has insurance proceeds to replace several roofs. Notably, many of the structures are located in City parks, including: Mary Park: Restroom, shelter one, shelter two Hatfield Park: Restroom/concession stand, four picnic shelters Paperjack Park: Restroom, picnic shelter Bids were due July 30th, and there was significant interest in the project. Staff are reviewing and compiling the bids, which will be brought forward to the City Council on August 12th for possible action. Work is to be completed no later than November 30, 2026. Staff wanted to bring these projects to the attention of the Park Board, as you'll see this work being completed later this fall after contracts are executed and materials are ordered.  MEMO Prepared for: Park Board Staff Contact: Noah Wiedenfeld Meeting: Public Works - Park Board Sub-Committee - 05 Aug 2026 Subject: Freedom Park Prairie Restoration BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City of New Richmond acquired land from the Carpenter family in two phases in the early 2000s with financial assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Originally named Hatfield Lake Regional Park, the name was changed in 2012 to Freedom Park to honor active-duty and former armed services personnel. The land was acquired to expand public outdoor recreational opportunities and to protect Hatfield Lake. Over the past twenty years, Freedom Park has slowly developed in small phases and today features six irrigated athletic fields, two picnic pavilions, gravel parking lots, a small storage building, and a multi-use trail around the perimeter. A 17,500 square-foot community center is under construction near the middle of the park on land owned by the Freedom Park Center, Inc. The athletic fields are used for active recreational activities including soccer, lacrosse, and football, and the trail is used year-round by area citizens who walk and bike. From an operational standpoint, the Public Works Department spends a significant amount of time in the summer months mowing and striping the athletic fields, as the youth sporting events draw large crowds from New Richmond and surrounding communities. There has been discussion in recent years about potentially charging organizations who use the athletic fields to offset these expenses, and the Public Works Department recently acquired an automated striper in an effort to reduce the amount of staff time required for painting. With the exception of the Freedom Park Trail, the northern- most 40 acres of the park has largely been untouched and is leased for crops. Park Master Plan A civil engineering and landscape architecture firm, Rettler Corporation, prepared the original master plan for Freedom Park in 2006. In addition to the current park amenities, the plan included ten (10) lighted baseball fields, t-ball area, two playgrounds, multiple paved parking lots, indoor recreation center, outdoor ice-skating area, disc golf course, and pedestrian bridge, just to name some of the amenities. The master plan was revised in 2019 by consultant Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH, Inc.) after it was determined that the original plan was not financially feasible. Soil surveys indicated that the northern half of Freedom Park was not suitable for growing turf grass. Public feedback was solicited through an online survey and in-person open house meetings. The top three amenities that respondents asked for in Freedom Park at that time were more trails, a playground, and permanent restrooms. A revised master plan was approved in early 2020 and combined some of the aspects of the original master plan with more passive recreational amenities that were sought after by residents and were more financially feasible both in terms of initial development and long-term operations. Most notably, plans for additional baseball fields were scaled back, and much of the northern half of Freedom Park was planned to be converted to native prairie with walking paths. Freedom Park Activity Since 2019 For many years, there has been a lack of consensus and several “stops and starts” when it comes to Freedom Park improvements. For example, City staff solicited bids to construct a permanent restroom facility at Freedom Park in 2019 as this was ranked as the highest priority of the Park Board at the time. The bids were later rejected, and the funds were instead designated towards materials to complete the walking trail along the perimeter of the park. Today, there are still no permanent restrooms in the park, and the walking trail is functional but was not built exactly to engineered specifications. Bids to correct deficiencies and pave the trail were rejected in 2024, as the City Council expressed a desire to instead focus on investing in existing trails elsewhere in the city that were overdue for maintenance. Staff have researched and presented to the Park Board the costs and feasibility of a beach, tent campground, and RV campground, all of which have been determined to be cost-prohibitive, not feasible, or in the case of the beach, not permitted by the DNR. Local youth baseball advocates expressed a desire in 2023 for artificial turf baseball fields at Freedom Park, but this too was cost prohibitive. Construction of the Freedom Park Center began in 2023, and the building shell is complete, however, there is still a significant amount of fundraising required before the building can be completed, with no immediate plans for construction in 2026. Investments have been made to promote recreation on Hatfield Lake with the installation of an aeration system and the paving of the public landing. One lesser-known improvement to Freedom Park that began in 2024 was led by members of the Pathway Committee and New Richmond High School student organization Earth First to establish a pollinator plot. This initiative has received financial and in-kind support and assistance from Star Prairie Fish and Game, New Richmond Area Community Foundation, St. Croix Electric Cooperative, Kinni Chapter of Pheasants Forever, and the Challenge Incarceration Program, just to name a few, and a second phase was planted in 2026. Current Farm Lease The City of New Richmond leases much of the northern half of Freedom Park to a local farmer who plants corn and soybeans. The existing lease expires at the end of 2026. Under the terms of the existing lease, the farmer pays $5,213 annually ($130 per acre). If new bids are solicited, the new lease would run from 2027 through 2029, which allows farmers additional time to plan accordingly for crop rotations, applications of fertilizer and herbicide, tilling, etc. The City typically receives 1-3 bids, and rent can vary depending in part on input costs. Proposal for Consideration - Native Prairie Restoration If the Park Board and City Council are supportive, the northern 40 acres of Freedom Park could be removed from crop production and instead converted to native prairie, consistent with the master plan for the park. Native plant seed would be provided in-kind through a partnership with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, valued at $3,000-$5,000 per acre, and the project could offer hands-on experiential educational opportunities for students in the School District of New Richmond and Northwood Technical College, as well as additional partnerships with regional organizations committed to conservation, habitat preservation, and youth education. Given the financial investment this project would represent, the City would need to commit to maintaining the land as native prairie for a minimum of ten (10) years. The City would be responsible for long-term maintenance, such as performing prescribed burns, targeted weed control, and some mowing. Farmland revenue - currently $130 per acre - would be lost, however, in exchange, more of the park becomes useable and accessible to the public for outdoor recreation and educational opportunities, not to mention the associated environmental benefits. This proposal was discussed previously by the Park Board in Page 2 of 4 2024, and the Park Board was supportive of the initiative, however, at that time the City had an active lease for the land with a local farmer, so the project was not pursued. RECOMMENDATION: Some questions that the Park Board should consider, in making a recommendation:  Does the Park Board support the Freedom Park Master Plan and the concept for a prairie restoration? Do you feel this would add value to the parks and trails system as a whole, and help promote additional use and investment in Freedom Park?  Are there concerns about short-term or long-term maintenance costs?  Are there concerns about the loss in farm lease revenue?  Are there concerns about a ten-year commitment to the project?  Is there additional information you would like to have or questions that you would like answered in order to make an informed decision? ATTACHMENTS: Freedom Park Master Plan_pg 88 Page 3 of 4  Freedom Park Master Plan 0’ 200’ City of New Richmond, WI Hatfield New Richmond Park Page 4 of 4 January 2020 Regional Airport 5 Hatfield Lake 6 12 16 5 12 15 12 16 11 10 18 6 17 13 8 15 12 15 21 20 15 19 3 1 14 15 7 5 15 24 24 15 Liberty Drive 1 2 1 9 3 3 Industrial Boulevard 1 7 Highway 64 7 24 24 22 22 3 4 8 24 23 3 7 6 1 22 22 9 24 2 2 5 County Highway CC / Wall Street 1 Drive - 22’ wide asphalt drive with curb and gutter. 6 Mown Trail - 10’ wide, minimum. Keep mown to 6” height, max. 11 Boardwalk - Provide 12’ wide boardwalk to island. 16 Fishing/Boating Pier - T-shaped pier, length to be sufficiently out of cattail 22 Youth Baseball/Softball Fields - 250’ outfield with skinned infield, dugouts, area. backstop fence, and five row bleachers. Provide new field lighting and irriga- 2 Entry Sign - Vertical entry sign. 7 Park Trail - 6’ wide decomposed granite or asphalt paved path. 12 Island Camping Sites - Rustic camp sites to include gravel tent pad, fire ring, tion system (including irrigation pump and well). and picnic table. 17 Perched Beach - Elevated sand beach adjacent to lake. 3 Parking - Asphalt parking lot with curb and gutter. Include shade trees in 8 Prairie Restoration - Establish mix of short and long grass prairies 23 Concessions/Restroom/Shelter Building - Provide four single stall parking lot islands or adjacent landscape areas. interspersed with oak savanna. Interim land use: continue agricultural lease, 13 Island Council Ring - Gathering area in tree/scrub clearing with lake over- 18 Pea Gravel Beach - For swimming and canoe/kayak/SUP launch. restrooms, concessions stand, and roof overhang for picnic area. encouraging no-till methods (if not already in practice) to increase biomass in look. 4 Overflow Parking - Pave access point in asphalt. Delineate grass overflow soil. 19 Picnic Shelter - Preserve existing picnic shelter, provide connection to walk. 24 Multiuse Fields - Maintain existing irrigated multiuse fields for soccer, parking area with tree perimeter. 14 VFW Development Site - 10,000 SF assembly building, parking area, and football, lacrosse, and all field sports. Remove rock and top with clean topsoil 9 Tree Plantings - Plant native trees for shade and blocking winds. memorial garden. 20 Picnic Shelter/Restrooms - New picnic shelter with restrooms and patio. as necessary. 5 Periphery Path - Complete park periphery path. Width and paving to match existing. 10 Restrooms - Provide two single stall restrooms at island campsite trail head. 15 Story Walk - Provide overlooks with seating and permanent signage honoring 21 Nature Play Area - Nature based playground to include climbing areas, sand local veterans. and water play, boulders, logs, and walking path.