Parks and Public Works Committee

CITY OF PRESCOTT, WISCONSIN SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, PARKS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a meeting of the Parks, and Public Property Committee was held, September 19th, 2022, Municipal Building, 800 Borner Street, Prescott, WI 54021. Call to Order: Committee Member Pat Knox called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm. Members present were Pat Knox, John Peterson, and Bailey Ruona arrived late. Casey Johnson of the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce was also present. 1. Approve Minutes for August 15th, 2022. Knox motioned to approve the minutes for August 15, 2022, Peterson seconded, motion passed without a negative voice vote. (2-to-0) 2. Skate Park Location Discussion With the removal of the current skate park, residents have come forward expressing the need to keep a skate park within the community. In the future, a concrete skate park with dimensions of 40 ft x 120 ft has been discussed. Planner Carter Hayes presented information regarding the skate park site analysis. Committee Member Peterson voiced that the current skate park site it favorable in that it already has housed a skate park. The St. Croix Bluffs site and Great Rivers sites are not favorable due to inaccessibility and highway concerns. The Linn Street Ice Rink site was explained to be not used in the Summer, Spring, and Fall seasons, and only used in Mid-Winter. Committee Member Pat Knox was not opposed to the St. Croix Bluffs site, stating the topography could offer interesting skate park features. Committee Member Knox also expressed the idea of sharing the potential sites with the public, looking for feedback. A drawback to the St. Croix Bluffs site is the crossing of HWY 10, separating it from the rest of Prescott. The Committee recommended the existing skate park site and the Linn Street ice rink site as sites to further explore going forward with the skate park relocation project. 3. Riverfront Artwork Discussion Dale Lewis designs artwork made out of scrap metal and recycled materials. The City is considering adding a piece of his artwork to the downtown riverfront area. Casey Johnson with the Prescott Chamber of Commerce will be in attendance to discuss the proposal with the Committee.  Casey Johnson of the Chamber of Commerce presented information regarding the riverfront artwork. The City of Prescott would have the ability to lease a sculpture for a year for $1,000. Committee Member Pat Knox offered the idea of looking for sponsorship of the artwork to contribute towards the funds necessary for a sculpture. It was mentioned that organizations or private donors could be interested in sponsoring artwork for the riverfront. The Committee favored Abe the Eagle because of its connection with the Wisconsin’s Eighth Infantry, other sculptures discussed were Medusa and River Bottoms. The Committee expressed leasing artwork from the parks budget for the first year, promoting that there is opportunity for sponsorship after that. Sites discussed for an art piece was the greenspace created with the Riverfront project, or on a corner of Broad Street. Committee Member Ruona motioned to move forward with the lease of an art piece for the Riverfront and move the matter to Council. John Peterson seconded; Motion passed without a negative voice (3-0). 4. Riverfront Bench Dedications The Council approved park bench dedications as part of the Riverfront Project at their May 23, 2022 meeting. There are a total of six benches as part of the project and the decision was to charge $4,000 per bench dedication. The Committee requested that bench dedication plaques be reviewed. City Administrator Wolf presented information regarding the bench dedications. There were five submissions for bench plaque dedications for the six benches that are going to be placed. The Committee offered no objections to the proposed bench plaque dedications. 5. Public Comments Diane Cobain presented information regarding ideas for the riverfront project. She shared ideas such as a memorial rock garden with colored rocks. Another idea was a Little Library for sharing books and novels. Committee Member Ruona offered the idea of doing a parks tour for the October Parks Meeting to see the current state of Prescott’s Parks and to see if there are any favorable spots for a painted rock garden or little library. 6. Other Business 7.  Committee Member Ruona expressed that Muddy Waters’ deck is in the City Right-of-Way. Muddy Waters has approached Ruona about the existing wall that is placed in the ROW. 8. Adjourn Ruona motioned to adjourn, Knox seconded, motion passed without a negative voice vote at 6:22 pm Respectfully Submitted, Carter Hayes Planner