By Chris Spangler
The Fort Atkinson Plan Commission has set the wheels in motion for seeking a state grant to help pay for constructing a storage building/concession stand at Haumerson’s Pond.
Meeting Tuesday, the panel recommended that the Fort Atkinson City Council authorize execution of a cost-share grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to fund the multipurpose building at Bark River Nature Park.
Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department Director Brooke Franseen explained that the city is eligible to apply for the DNR grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for a project supported by the 2023-28 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP), which was adopted by the council in February. The grant requires that the CORP support the project being requested for grant funding, which it does.
“The LWCF grant requires a 50% match, which will come from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation,” Franseen said.
If the DNR awards the grant, city staff will seek approval of the site plan and building design through the Public Monument/Building Review process, she added.
Building project
In the concept plan proposed by the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond, the 26- by 44-foot storage/concession building would provide storage space for many items needed to run the operations at the park, including snow-removal equipment, hockey equipment, donated skates, items for two large events, 10 tables, 55 chairs, church pews, rubber mats, three panels of chain-link security fence for flood openings, and small handtools.
In addition, Franseen said there is a proposed shelter overhang measuring approximately 16- by 20-feet over the concessions window.
“The idea behind the concessions window is to offer skate rentals through 2 Rivers (Bicycle and Outdoor), collect donations for events and to add to the amenities when the shelter is rented for use as a serving area,” Franseen said.
Further, the concept plan includes a proposed wood-fired pizza oven that would use the concessions window during events held at the park.
“The proposed building will be consistent with the current shelter in regard to the brick exterior and similar roof pitch to complement the park’s natural setting,” the parks chief said. “Additionally, it is proposed in a location out of the floodplain, ensuring that it is not impacted by potential flood events.”
Fundraising
On April 26, 2022, the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation awarded the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond a $45,000 matching challenge grant to help build the storage/concession facility. Franseen said that the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond first will need to raise $45,000 to be eligible for the foundation monies.
“The city would like to support this project by applying for an eligible grant to decrease the amount of fundraised dollars needed by the Friends group,” Franseen said. “If the city is not awarded the grant, the Friends group is still committed to the proposed storage/concessions building and will move forward with fundraising for the matching funds from the community foundation.”
Commissioner Loren Gray inquired about the entire project’s estimated cost.
Steve Mode, who heads up the Friends group as it “grand poobah,” stepped up to the podium to respond.
“We’ve been on a little bit of an odyssey with this building,” he told the commission. “When we went to the foundation, it was for a storage structure only. And we’ve had some wonderful news, sitting down with the city, regarding the monument grants … that could help expand the project. We’re in the process of getting bids currently on the building. I think a lot of it has to do with approval by the city where we head to.”
He said the initial pricetag of $90,000 had been for an enhanced garage with minor heat.
“Then when we had our meeting …, the city wanted us to plan for the future and put water and sewer in the building for future needs. And that was something that the past administration didn’t want us to do. Now we’re back here and I think it will be a much better structure for doing that, and offer so many more components as to what the park is.”
Mode reported that last year, there were 133 rentals of the warminghouse for everything from birthday parties and small weddings to graduation parties and reunions. However, the one main concern has been that there is no place to plug in Nesco roaster ovens and crockpots, for instance.
“Now they’ll have the ability to have somewhere nice with stainless steel counters and things like to do a little more food prep in a nicer way,” he added.
Gray pointed out that it is likely the city won’t formally apply for the grant until it knows the cost of the facility.
“I believe the way that it will work is if we raise $45,000 and they (the foundation) raise $45,000, that puts us at $90,000 and the matching grant with the DNR” would match that, if approved. “I think we need to get firm numbers on where we’re at in order to figure out how this whole thing’s going to roll,” Mode said.
He added: “There’s a lot to go into it. This grant lights a fire to get these numbers together … to seek the grant.”
Gray asked what the Friends will do should the DNR grant be denied.
“If the grant’s denied, then I think we have more fundraising to do. I think we’ve proven ourselves in the building that we put up,” Mode said.
Commissioner Jill Kessenich observed that $180,000 likely means that there will be no commercial-grade kitchen or restrooms in the new building.
Mode said that the warming shelter already has restrooms and there is no intent to equip the structure with a commercial-grade kitchen.
Rather, the Friends are planning more of a “catering kitchen” with stainless steel counters and a sink.
“I think if we had cooking facilities (like a stove) there, it would be a mess for everyone involved,” Mode said.
Kessenich asked whether the Friends would provide volunteer labor for the project.
“If you know anything about the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond, we live on volunteer labor.
We try to be very good stewards of the money people give us. Eighty percent of the building that’s down there was done with volunteer labor and this will mimic that. We’re already collecting materials,” Mode said.
“That is part of the spirit of Haumerson’s Pond,” he added. “The people who have invested their time there are the ones who come back and promote it. And that’s what we want to keep going.”
After City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire reiterated that the vote does not commit the city itself to providing any funds, the commission approved the resolution.
Two graphics above, as supplied within a packet of materials provided to members of the Fort Atkinson Plan Commission Tuesday show differing views of a 26- by 44-foot storage/concession building as proposed by the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond. Plans call for the city to apply for a DNR grant to help fund the project, which comes with a projected cost of $90,000. Additional funding is anticipated through a Fort Atkinson Community Foundation matching challenge grant.
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