With two new apartment complexes and a housing development in the southern part of Shawano, the city’s parks and recreation department is looking at creating a neighborhood park in the area over the next three to five years.
Parks and Recreation Director Matt Hendricks presented the idea Oct. 15 to the Shawano Parks and Recreation Commission, noting that ideas have not been finalized on where the park is or what it will look like. A park in the area was recommended in the latest version of the city’s outdoor recreation plan, as right now, the closest neighborhood park for people in the area is Kleeman.
“That’s across Waukechon (Street) and another two or three blocks away,” Hendricks said. “If you think about it from a planning perspective, you want to think, why would I have my 8-year-old kid go all the way there. You want to reduce the barriers — water, railroad tracks, busy streets.”
Hendricks noted that while Hillcrest Primary School is nearby, those facilities are not open to the general public. There’s also Martzke Park next to Shawano Community High School, but that park’s primary use is for baseball and softball, he said.
An example of a neighborhood park is Arlington Park in the northern sector of the city with a basketball court, tennis court and modest playground, Hendricks said.
“That’s what we’re looking at in this particular area,” he said.
The southeast part of Shawano is a mixture of residential and industrial areas. Hendricks is recommending that the future park’s size be between 2½ and 4½ acres. He noted Arlington is 3 acres.
Hendricks said that even though there are industrial businesses operating in the area, they’re clean and quiet, which means the environment won’t hinder having a park in the area.
There was some concern from commission members about putting a park near the Huber Work Release Center, where some prisoners with jobs reside. Hendricks noted that the housing developments are near the facility, and many people have chosen to reside there. Also, there has been discussion at the county level of determining another use for the building and having both standard prisoners and work-release prisoners all at the Shawano County Jail.
Hendricks said the new park would likely have a shelter and restroom facilities, along with a small basketball court. He also said pickleball courts might be a possibility due to the increasing popularity for the sport.
The city would look at getting grants to pay for building the park, as well as seek private donations, including naming rights for more affluent benefactors. Hendricks said the park wouldn’t have to be built all at once.
“Phasing stuff in over time is easy for a park, unlike other city projects where you have to have it or you don’t,” he said.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
