The James Reed Park Development Project

24016 12th Street

Trempealeau, WI 54661

Project Progress Report: Construction!

Update on Park Construction and Schedule

The Village’s initial phase has two major items remaining before completion:

  • Paving: Mathy Construction completed one lift on the parking lot before temperatures required the final lift to be postponed until 2026.
  • Landscaping: Park greenspaces will be prepped and seeded as soon as weather conditions allow this spring.

Wanek Pavilion (Separate Project): In addition to the Village’s initial phase, construction of the Wanek Pavilion, made possible by a generous gift from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation, is scheduled from April 1 through August 1. This project is being constructed concurrently but is separate from the Village’s Phase 1 scope. Paving of the parking lot will take place after this project is completed.

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.

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.