title
116th Street Park Buildings and Structures
body
Submitted by:
Alex Krutsch - Parks and Forestry Superintendent
Department:
Public Works
A. Issue
Staff is seeking Board approval of the exterior design and aesthetic qualities of the restroom, picnic pavilion, and playground shade structures being planned for the 116th Street Park.
B. Background/Options
The Common Council of Wauwatosa has allocated 2 million dollars of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the development of a new city park located at the intersection of 116th Street and Gilbert Avenue on the City’s West side.
In addition to the ARPA funds staff and our consultants have secured close to $2 million in grant funding for the park. This funding has allowed staff to plan additional amenities such as a restroom, shade structures, and a picnic pavilion. These upgraded facilities will certainly create a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for residents visiting the park.
The restroom, shade structures, and picnic pavilion being planned for the park are all pre-fabricated structures. Sourcing pre-fabricated structures has allowed staff to select vandal resistant materials, keep costs within the limits of grant funding, and procure structures in accordance with the park’s construction timeline while providing attractive amenities that fit with the overall aesthetic of the park. Pre-fabricated structures have the added benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty.
Included in the agenda packet are restroom elevations with floorplan, picnic pavilion drawings with precedent imagery, shade structure renderings, and a park site plan for the Boards consideration. Members of the Board will notice two possible color schemes represented on the restroom elevations. These schemes were presented by the manufacturer as examples of a subdued color scheme (scheme “A”) and a more vibrant color scheme (scheme “B”) and are meant to show how color can be applied to the structure. The colors themselves do not represent staffs color selection. With that said, staff believes the use of color in “Scheme B” continues the fun and vibrant aesthetic of the playground and helps unify the space. Staff will present the board with physical color samples for the structure at the board meeting.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Priority Area Three: Infrastructure
Priority Area Five: Quality of Life
D. Fiscal Impact
The initial expense of the structures is being covered by grant funding. Staff has selected vandal resistant, low maintenance finishes such as steel roofs, cement board siding, and split block facades. This should keep maintenance expenses low for years to come. While there will certainly be some expense with maintaining and operating these buildings it is anticipated that the parks current operating budget will be able to absorb those costs.
E. Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the exterior design and finishes of the restroom, picnic pavilion, and shade structures being planned for the 116th Street Park.