De Pere to offer more replacement trees

DE PERE — Residents whose terraces were left with an open space due to the emerald ash borer can get a replacement tree, on the city.

Many people didn’t qualify for a replacement tree because of the city’s policy, which kicked in only when a resident lost two or more terrace trees: If they lost two trees, they got one replacement tree. Those who lost just one tree got nothing.

A grant provided De Pere with over 200 trees, so now the city is opening up the offer to include those singletons who were left by the wayside.

Unclaimed remaining trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Pollinator gardens coming
The De Pere Board of Parks Commissioners approved a plan to establish pollinator gardens at four city parks that have urban orchards.

They include Voyageur and Braisher on the east side, and Samantha and VFW on the west.

Last spring, the common council voted to discontinue participation in No Mow May and instead to install planned natural landscapes in public spaces around the city.

The pollinator gardens will take the form of 10-foot-wide gardens abutting the short side of each orchard.

The cost for site clearing, plantings, and labor is estimated to be about $2,500 per garden.

Until the pollinator gardens are established or a volunteer group steps in, the gardens would require watering and weeding, according to Chase Kuffel, assistant city engineer and sustainability commission liaison with the City of De Pere.

If common council approves the measure, funding would come from the city’s sustainability budget.

Southwest Park plan
Some new features could be in store for Southwest Park.

The parks department unveiled some preliminary plans for new activity areas in four areas of the park.

“With Southwest Park having limited space, the ability to expand is limited,” Marty Kosobucki, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, said.

Plans include:
• An ADA compliant path leading to other parts of the park. It would include a rustic walkway through the wooded area of the park.
• A non-paved green area for auxiliary parking.
• A 4-6 court pickle ball facility.
• A small nine-hole disc golf course, or pocket disc golf course north of the park’s Gandrud Field. It would be the first disc golf course on the west side.
“For the last 10 years, we’ve been asked regularly, ‘What about the west side?’” Kosobucki said.

Puppy yoga
The parks department has been brainstorming ideas for special programming to hold on select days at De Pere’s newest park shelter.

Nelson Family Pavilion opened at the beginning of the summer.

Goat and puppy yoga are among the possible activities staff is looking into, according to Kosobucki.

The programs are still in planning stages.

Recreation Superintendent Paula Rahn said in a memo that the city’s legal department needs to coordinate legal waivers and agreements.

“Registration would be required for all events and all programs would be zero-based, which means we would not run the program unless we were able to obtain minimum registration allowing us to break even,” she said.

Recreation scholarship boost
Recreation scholarships are getting a $5 increase and will be open to anyone who needs one, not just youth.

“We have seen a slight increase in financial need from more participants of our programs, and particularly, the senior population,” Park Superintendent Paula Rahn said in a memo. “By opening the financial assistance program up to all ages, we would propose adding that scholarships are available for sports programs and leagues with player fees only for adult leagues.”

The amount families can receive per year through scholarships will be $130, up from $125, for family activities plus $100 per individual in the same household.

Individuals of any age can receive up to $100 per year for individual activities.
In 2024, the parks department gave out 49 scholarships totaling $5,719.

Community members can qualify for scholarships if they can demonstrate financial hardship.

The parks board unanimously approved the changes.