Tuesday, September 10, 2024
By Lee Reinsch
Correspondent
DE PERE – The De Pere board of park commissioners is recommending the Common Council give the green light to roof work at the De Pere Community Center.
The building has been plagued by large icicles believed to be caused by heat loss in some spots of the roof that were not insulated during the construction process, said Recreation Superintendent Paula Rahn, at the Jan. 16 parks meeting.
The heat loss melts the snow, which freezes into large icicles that could prove dangerous if they were to fall on someone.
They also cause ice dams on the roof, which lead to improper drainage of roof moisture.
Moreover, water from melted icicles can freeze on the sidewalks below and cause patches of ice, which could pose a slipping hazard.
The two-story De Pere Community Center is about 20 years old.
The park commissioners voted to ask the council to pay $6,500 for a consultant from the design firm GRAEF to do a roofing and/or insulation investigation into the matter.
GRAEF submitted the lowest bid for the consulting job.
The council next meets Feb. 4.
Voyageur Park upgrade?
The park commissioners heard a suggestion by Alderperson Casey Nelson to explore the possibility of turning the Voyageur Park restroom building into a multi-purpose facility which includes a restroom.
“The idea would be to make Voyageur Park more of a destination on a Saturday afternoon,” Nelson said.
He said it could be partially paid for by redirecting the $125,000 in stadium tax money earmarked to go toward a bandstand at the park.
The bandstand idea has since been put on hold until the city’s cultural district plans take shape.
Augmenting the $125,000 in stadium tax/bandstand money would be $170,000 that has been set aside to replace the existing Voyageur Park restroom.
“The concept is to make it more than just a restroom,” said Marty Kosobucki, director of De Pere Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. “It could be a multi-purpose room, it could be a concession space, it could be something that enhances the beer garden or that enhances yoga in the park. Or it could be something that does all of that.”
The board decided before it goes to the council to ask the city to redirect the funds, the idea needs to be developed more, and the park commissioners need to decide on the goals of the facility.
“We would have to flesh out what this thing really could be,” Kosobucki said. “I don’t know if anyone can say what it would be, because at this point, it’s just an idea.”
In other Voyageur Park news:
• The park commissioners approved an offer of $4,000 from Amerilux, distributor of wall PVC and polycarbonate building materials, to sponsor the 2020 Beer Gardens.
Amerilux is located in the industrial park on the city’s east side.
• The commissioners voted to accept a $500 donation from the De Pere Kiwanis Club to put toward the recreation department’s scholarship program.
Last year, the program allowed 70 families to participate in recreation department programs.
Of the 70 scholarships awarded, 43 went toward family swim passes and caregiver passes; 21 went toward summer day camp, playground activities and instructional programs such as tae kwon do, dance and swimming lessons.
• The park commissioners voted to recognize Ryan Funeral Home for its sponsoring of a veterans’ luncheon with card games last fall.
The funeral home’s $1,450 sponsorship meant the parks department could make the event free for the 145 veterans who attended.
