2-7-20 business leaders present alternate lakeside park plan at next week’s city council meeting

The Fond du Lac Parks director says an alternate Lakeside Park master plan put forth by a group of business leaders is an interesting concept with some nice additions, but says there are still concerns.   A group of Fond du Lac business leaders wants the city to scrap its plan to build a new, expanded pavilion and go with their plan instead.   Seven companies have made verbal commitments of $4.6 million toward an estimated $10 million cost to build an amphitheater, ice rink and expanded parking on Oven Island, and restaurant and history museum on the lighthouse peninsula.   “There were some concerns from the Park Board of having so much in one area of the park and parking capacity for the boaters and going to the lighthouse,”   Parks director John Redmond told WFDL news.   “The area they would put the amphitheater is heavily used in the summer time, so it would get a little more congested.”    Group spokesperson Tom Schermerhorn with Excel Engineering says the idea was to create a “center” where people could come and utilize the park in a better fashion.   Schermerhorn says while he can’t speak for the entire group, he believes the financial  commitment is contingent on staying pretty close to their proposal.  “The general concept would be they’re (business group) supportive of this master plan and maybe some slight deviation to this plan.  If they (council) were to continue with the current pavilion plan,  tear it down, replace it, I’m guessing that you would lose some or potentially all of that support from the private sector,”  Schermerhorn told WFDL news.  Redmond says the restaurant-history museum building would completely change the lighthouse peninsula.  “We would need to work with Excel or whoever would be doing the design to fit it in the location the best we can in hopes of saving as many of the trees as possible,”   Redmond said.  “But from what I see it certainly looks like a number of the trees would need to come down.”   Schermerhorn acknowledges the restaurant and museum building  will change the look of the peninsula, but contends it would be for the better.   “Consensus of the committee was that this would open up that prime location to more people, more than just vehicle traffic,”  Schermerhorn said.  “Vehicles could still go out there.  There would be a walkway along the lake, a plaza, patio area.   We just feel that more people could enjoy that space.”   Redmond says there is also the question about long term maintenance and upkeep of the buildings and property.   While the business group says the intention is to make it revenue neutral, Redmond says that remains to be seen.    “In regard to the upkeep at the amphitheater there certainly will be an increase in utility costs, the maintenance of the ice rink and costs associated with that.  The coils are quite expensive to operate.”     Redmond says one thing is for certain…the proposed plan would transform Lakeside Park.  “It certainly would change the park,”  Redmond said.  “From what I see you will certainly have nice access to the lake area, but it will be different.   The parking lot, people sit and look at the lake will no longer be there and the (lighthouse) turnaround, you won’t be able to drive through as you currently do.”    Schermerhorn  says the group has created a gmail address at Lakeside Park 2020  and welcomes public comment, positive or negative.   The Fond du Lac city council will consider the plan at their February 12 meeting.