New entrance sign approved for Ashwaubomay Park

By Kevin Boneske

Staff Writer

ASHWAUBENON – The village board voted Tuesday, April 28, to approve a new entrance sign with a message board for Ashwaubomay Park.

Of the four designs submitted, the board selected the Reinhold Sign Service design to mount on the ground and replace the current ground-mounted sign at the park entrance.

Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Rex Mehlberg said the bid specifications called for a Watchfire brand electronic message board of 32 square feet incorporated into a monument structure, which resembles a sign found at an entrance to a national park.

“We didn’t put the bid out for lowest price,” he said. “We put the bid out with the emphasis on design.”

Based on a combination of cost and design factors, which include a planter incorporated into the sign, Mehlberg said the village’s park board recommended the design from Reinhold.

He said there are Tax Incremental Financing funds available for the $56,803 sign purchase and installation, which will include $53,503 for the sign with $2,800 for electrical work and an estimated $500 for concrete.

Mehlberg said the project will provide a more prominent sign for Ashwaubomay Park, where several activities are held.

“Ashwaubomay’s really becoming a real attraction,” he said. “Not only do we have a lake, but we have multiple baseball tournaments there throughout the summer, we have food truck rallies, we had the Ashwaubenon Blast. Triathlons and walks are based out of Ashwaubomay.”

Mehlberg said the park’s road overhead sign, which is deteriorating, will also be removed.

CORP update

In other action, the board approved the village’s updated Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP).

Mehlberg said the majority of the information is the same as from 2014, with updates to the 10-year project list and an expansion of amenities to the village’s trail system and potential areas in the sports and entertainment district.

“Like any other plan, there may be things in here that you like, there may be things in here that you don’t like,” he said. “But any particular idea or thought or project always gets vetted by administration and also goes to the village board for funding before it becomes reality.”

Mehlberg said the plan was worked on the past several meetings by the park board and is only a guide, which can be used to apply for grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.