The Shawano Parks and Rec Department has had a good start to 2018.
Last week, the city’s common council approved a project that will enhance two city parks. This will include a splash pad at Memorial Park that Parks and Rec Director Matt Hendricks says will be built specifically for Shawano.
“It will be about 3,000 square feet of wet deck area, the area that you’re engaged with the wet deck and cannons,” Hendricks said. “There’s also dry deck area with seating, shade and shelter where adults can watch the kids and not get wet.”
The capacity will be about 125-135 people, which is significantly larger than the old children’s pool. Also unlike the old pool, there will be no age limit.
Construction on the splash pad will begin once the frost is off the ground.
The Franklin Park build out will include a stage area for concerts and movies, as well as walkways and a water feature.
“People have gotten excited about the splash pad, and rightfully so,” Hendricks said. “But Franklin Park, at least from a parks director is equally as exciting, for different reasons. It’s a different niche in our community. It’s 3 to 4 acres of a block off downtown and a structure that will allow for community events to take place.”
Hendricks envisions events like arts, music, movies in the park.
“Maybe jazz on Thursday where people can bring a glass of wine and their cheese down and listen to their music in the park,” Hendricks said.
There will be a stage and walkways, swinging benches, lighting, and other aesthetics features.
Hendricks said parking will be added to the north end of the park, much like the parking that was added to Washington St. last year.
It will be an area conducive for vendors to use, where they can back their trucks in. Hendricks believes will provide infrastructure that will allow the Farmers Markets to grow.
“They can back into those places and there will be a larger than normal walkway in the backside and we’ll also have electrical hookups,” Hendricks said.
Both parks will be fully ADA accessible. The winning bid the project came in $200,000 under what was initially projected.