Ski Sharks equipment eyesore for neighbors

The city of Shawano is working out a way to reduce the amount of Shawano Ski Sharks equipment being stored at Smalley Park in order to appease frustrated neighbors.

A Shawano Park and Recreation Commission meeting on March 27 was, at times, contentious, as a former city administrator, his wife and a retired dentist spoke about how the equipment at the park spoils their view and puts area children at risk if they play on it, and representatives of the Ski Sharks took some of the comments as an attack on an organization that has utilized the area for 40 years.

In the end, the commission moved to have the Ski Sharks, at the end of the 2024 season, move three rolla docks and five boat lifts out of Smalley, with Huckleberry Harbor being considered as the storage site for that equipment when fall and winter roll around. The ski jump, big dock section and five floating docks are not currently slated for removal from the park.

The commission also unanimously recommended that the Ski Sharks’ lease be extended for an additional five years.

Lori Knapp, wife of former city administrator Brian Knapp, told the commission that the view from the living room of a property the Knapps own is directly blocked by the Ski Sharks’ stored equipment.

“We were not communicated with at all regarding the storage or concerns about that,” Knapp said. “I’m just disappointed and now I’m concerned that we, as neighbors, weren’t communicated with.”

Brian Knapp noted that the growth of the Ski Sharks’ summer shows has resulted in more activity and the additional noise and traffic that comes with it. He said it’s a hallmark of progress that the neighborhood has to cope with that, but he doesn’t believe the neighborhood should have to put up with seeing the stored equipment when the Ski Sharks aren’t using the park.

“It does impact our neighborhood,” Brian Knapp said. “Frankly, with that success comes cost, and I don’t think the neighborhood and us, as neighbors, should have to bear all of the costs of their success. We already put up with the activity level there. We shouldn’t necessarily have to put up with all of their stuff and the aesthetics of their stuff, or the lack thereof, impacting us and our neighbors.”

Jeff Zander said ideas to camoflauge the equipment with piled-up snow are an invitation for neighborhood children to play on it, which could be dangerous for them to do because of “sharp metal pieces and projecting poles.” He also disputed that the boat lifts have been lowered enough to reduce visibility.

“If that’s the case, and neighbors are still complaining, then lowering the lifts is not the solution,” Zander said. “Name one other property owner who pulls up their boat lifts and dumps them in a city park. I don’t think there are any.”

Dave Passehl, Ski Sharks president, pointed out that the Ski Sharks have stored their equipment in the area of Smalley Park from when there was a hospital adjacent to the shore to now that the area has additional homes being built. He and others have volunteered their time to keep the property up, including fertilizing the lawn and taking care of it, along with helping to put in the sprinkler system and other infrastructure. He noted that the Ski Sharks have put in $240,000 of their own money to improve the park, which he feels is a sign that the organization has invested in the property.

“I never thought we were on referendum this evening,” Passehl said. “I thought we were here to extend our lease and come up with an equitable agreement for storage. The tone of Dr. Zander is absolutely alarming and shocking that anybody would take a tone like that in this regard.”

He noted the entire city benefits from thousands of people coming from outside Shawano to enjoy the shows, the same as when the city hosts tournaments on the ball fields at Memorial Park or when the stock car races take place on Saturday nights at the Shawano Speedway.

“We’ve never had to move off-site for 40 years, and there are challenges that it presents,” Passehl said. “Our position on it is that we take 100% pride in what we do at that site, 100%.”

Passehl added that, while moving the equipment can be done, there’s an increased risk of damage, and it would be a lengthy process.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com