Parkland Development Project

24016 12th Street

Trempealeau, WI 54661

Project Progress Report: Construction!

Construction began on June 24th, with crews from Ayres and Stout surveying the area for clearing and grubbing.

Grading, installation of water and sewer mains, retention ponds, and base courses for trails, sport courts, and baseball fields were all completed before winter. Posts for fencing and backstops were installed during the winter months.

Major Construction Resuming in 2025

Schedule is subject to change.

Park Site Improvements
Asphalt trail and court paving were completed during the first week of June 2025. Installation of chain link fencing and site landscaping is scheduled to begin on June 9th, 2025. Court surfacing, native seed mixes, court striping, and park amenities such as benches, bike racks, and tables will follow through July. Parking lot work, including fine grading, concrete paving, and asphalt binder course, is set to begin in September. Final pavement markings and punch list work will conclude by mid-September.

Field Improvements
Irrigation installation, dugouts, and field surfacing are planned for June. Additional details, including sports field seeding and synthetic turf installation, are expected to wrap up in early September 2025.

The original substantial completion date was July 16th. Due to change orders related to donations to the Village for the park, including converting the east field to synthetic turf and enhancements to the pickleball courts, the new proposed substantial completion date is September 19th, 2025.

3D Model Renderings

Background

  • Land was purchased in 2014 with a combination of County grant funds and local funds with the goal to build a park – the need for a park was outlined in the resolution.
  • Continued development of parks and recreational facilities are heavily emphasized in the comprehensive plan public feedback.
  • The Village has consistently received public pressure to follow through with this project and has also heard from community members and employees that there is a real need for more baseball and soccer fields.

Park Project

  • The current proposal is for the Village to commit $3M for the initial phase of the project which includes the following items:
    • Two Ball Fields – Softball and Baseball (bleachers, dugouts, fencing)
    • Two Pickleball Courts
    • One Basketball Court
    • Grading and seeding the northeast corner for a large event area/soccer fields
    • Roadway and utility extensions
    • Parking Lot
    • Lighted Nature Trails
    • Retention Pond

Donations

  • Donations are always welcome and can be specified for certain projects.
    • click the link below to make a one time or recurring donation to our community park
    • donations are being managed by the non profit Winona Community Foundation
    • if you’d like to sponsor a specific project, please let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions

The failed referendum in early 2022 sought community support for an increase in the property tax levy to cover debt service payments for the initial phase of the parkland development. However, the recently approved proposal by the board is designed to ensure that the debt structure has a neutral impact on property taxes. This means that there will be no additional burden on taxpayers as a result of the parkland development.

The initial referendum was held during a spring primary, which was not an ideal election to ask this question, typically it has the lowest voter turnout. Only 392 people cast their votes, and the parkland proposal fell short by just 14 votes. In contrast, the November election that year drew 912 voters. Initially, the board believed that if the referendum failed, it would put the idea to rest, allowing the Village to focus on other priorities. However, this was not the case, as Village employees and Trustees continued to receive feedback from the public in favor of advancing the project. The subsequent year involved a comprehensive plan rewrite, extensive public input, and a strong emphasis on developing additional parks and recreation facilities. Given the mounting public pressure and the opportunity to implement phase one without raising taxes, the board decided to move forward with a proposal presented by the Village Administrator.

There were several compelling reasons for relocating the park’s entrance away from King St:

  1. Cost Efficiency: A significant portion, approximately $1 million, of the project budget was allocated for roads, utilities, and parking lots. By changing the entrance from King St, we were able to achieve substantial cost savings. This adjustment not only benefits the current project but also holds the potential to fund more developments in phase 1.
  1. Topographical Challenges: The land near King St presented formidable topographical challenges. Establishing a road that looped all the way through would have incurred additional costs and limited the space available for the desired layout and connectivity of future park amenities, as recommended by Ayres.
  1. Traffic Concerns: Given the densely populated nature of the surrounding neighborhood, there was a genuine concern about increased traffic flow through the area. After careful consideration and discussions with our Police Chief regarding public safety, it was deemed more prudent to channel traffic through larger roads that are better suited to handle heavier traffic, such as County Highway K.

King St will serve as a trailhead for the nature trails, and emergency vehicles will retain access to the trails in case of emergencies. The trails will be constructed to meet the necessary weight and infrastructure standards, ensuring that they can accommodate the safe passage of emergency vehicles when required.

The Township of Trempealeau’s Town Council has expressed concerns regarding increased traffic along Schubert Road after the decision to remove the entrance to the park from King St. The Village recognizes these concerns but believes they are manageable. Below, we outline the reasons for our perspective:

  1. Efficient Routing: Most of the traffic headed to our park will naturally flow through County Highway K. From County K, vehicles will make a brief turn onto Schubert Road to access the park’s entrance. It’s important to note that the Village’s jurisdiction largely encompasses the section of Schubert Road in question, following a recent annexation.
  1. Rural Characteristics: Schubert Road to the north primarily traverses a rural landscape, flanked by extensive farmland before approaching the Village limits. This portion of Schubert Road appears well suited to handle traffic. Even with a King St entrance all traffic from the North would most likely be traveling along Schubert Road anyway.
  1. County Highway K: County K is classified as a major collector road, with a low estimated daily traffic volume of 1,200 vehicles according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). This classification indicates that County Highway K can comfortably accommodate more traffic while maintaining safety. Even during events where our park reaches maximum parking capacity, the traffic generated is barely over 1/10th of a fraction of what County K handles daily.
  1. Local Traffic: It’s important to recognize that any significant increase in traffic on Schubert Road, particularly heading south towards the park, is likely to be generated by residents of the Town of Trempealeau who are eager to enjoy the new park. Additionally, traffic heading in this direction may consist of opposing teams traveling to participate in sports activities against Trempealeau area teams, which are composed of young players from not just the Village but also our neighboring communities like the Township. Ultimately, the goal is to create a park that is accessible and enjoyable for Village residents but we know that it will be enjoyed by everyone from the entire region and we are ok with that.
  1. Collaborative Approach: Given the various uncertainties surrounding this project, in the event that any adverse effects, such as increased traffic on Schubert Road, do arise, the Village is firmly dedicated to working in close collaboration with the Township of Trempealeau to proactively address these concerns. Our commitment lies in fostering a cooperative effort to optimize the park’s benefits while mitigating any potential adverse impacts on the community.

We’re sharing this memo from Ayres Associates to emphasize that the Village has treated the Schubert Road traffic concerns with utmost seriousness and hasn’t disregarded the matter. We consulted experts from two highly reputable professional service firms, Ayres Associates and Short Elliot Hendrickson, both specializing in traffic impact analysis. Both firms advised the Village that conducting a traffic analysis for this small-scale development with minimal traffic impact wouldn’t be the most cost-effective use of funds.

Municipal budgeting and finance can be a complex subject. There are nuances to this explanation but considering simplicity and brevity we can explain the situation in the following way.

The property tax levy can be divided into two main parts:

Part 1: The operating levy is utilized to cover the annual operating expenses of the general fund, which includes the budget for the pool. The growth of this levy is limited, as it relies on net new construction which fails to keep pace with inflation. The second largest funding source for the general fund operating budget is State Aid and that has actually been declining since 2003. To surpass the state cap on part one of the levy, a vote was required to cover the annual operating costs of the pool.

Part 2: The second part consists of allowable exceptions that can be added to the levy. One primary exception utilized is for debt payments. You can only levy for the upcoming budget year’s required debt payments. Once the debt is fully repaid, the levy amount is lost, unless new debt is incurred. This is where the current project becomes significant. By 2025, most of the general fund’s debt will be settled, enabling us to secure a large bond for the park. This bond would replace the previous debt payments without increasing the property tax levy any further.

The Village will be responsible for the annual operating costs associated with maintaining the new park. While there are inherent risks involved, we firmly believe that the advantages of developing the park outweigh these risks. Additionally, there are multiple potential funding sources available to cover future operating expenses, including:

Park rental fees: By incorporating baseball fields, soccer fields, a spacious event area, and potential park shelters, we can charge fees for utilizing these spaces. The revenue generated from these fees will help offset the annual operating costs required to maintain the park.

Potential Public‐Private Partnerships: Currently, Trempealeau Youth Sports (TYSC) leases the ballfield within the Village, and they are responsible for maintaining the fields and equipment. Although it is uncertain whether a similar agreement will be reached for the new ballfields, we are open to exploring public‐private partnerships with TYSC or other organizations to share responsibilities and potentially secure additional funding.

Potential Increase in State Aid: While this aspect remains uncertain, it is worth noting that there is bipartisan consensus on the need to address funding issues for municipalities. The preliminary budget deal includes a proposed initial 15‐25% increase in State Aids, which could result in an annual funding increase of $35K‐$58K. Furthermore, a mechanism is being considered to ensure consistent yearly growth rather than stagnation.

Growth in the Tax Base: We believe that incorporating this park into the Village will play a pivotal role in stimulating community growth. The park is planned to be included in TID #2, a funding mechanism created by the Village for infrastructure extensions in both commercial and residential developments to expand the tax base. Growing the tax base serves two purposes: it distributes the tax levy burden among more individuals and attracts more utility customers, which helps maintain lower utility rates. While the commercial development is progressing well, the residential development is currently in a state of uncertainty. However, having exceptional public amenities like the proposed park will undoubtedly attract developers and residents alike. As the tax base expands, it will enable further growth in the property tax levy, which can be distributed among a larger population.

We are optimistic that these funding sources, coupled with the potential growth opportunities, will ensure the financial viability of the new park and its long‐term sustainability within the Village.

We have made the decision to continue our partnership with Ayres Associates, the engineering firm that developed the original plan several years ago and conducted preliminary topography work at the project site. Ayres Associates has been incredibly dedicated, offering their time and expertise to update plan drawings and estimates without any cost to the Village. Their ongoing involvement has played a vital role in keeping the project moving forward, overcoming various challenges along the way.

By maintaining our collaboration with Ayres Associates, we not only benefit from their understanding of the project but also ensure cost savings due to their prior contributions.

While we acknowledge the potential contributions of other firms, we believe that maintaining continuity with Ayres Associates will help maximize the cost savings and is the best course of action at this time.