Here’s what Fond du Lac readers said are their favorite third places and what more they’d like to see.
FOND DU LAC — We asked, "Does Fond du Lac have enough third places?" and Fond du Lac readers have answered in force.
"Third place" is a term to describe an informal social space that isn't home or work — considered the first and second places, respectively — that is a respite from the places a person spends a majority of their time.
Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book "The Great Good Place," third places are meant to foster a sense of community and facilitate creative interaction, where conversations are free-flowing, unplanned and independent of social status.
Common examples include cafes, parks, churches, the public library, community centers and bars, though options vary depending on the time of day, the time of year, cost and age appropriateness.
Streetwise asked readers what their favorite current third places are in the area and what they'd like to see in the future.
Several readers said Fond du Lac has a strong bar scene, but they would like to see more options for people who are underage, sober or just don't prefer bars.
Fond du Lac also has coffee shops and churches as adult-aimed alternatives, the Children's Museum of Fond du Lac and new play café Wonder for children and the Fond du Lac Public Library and Fond du Lac Family YMCA for all ages.
After about a dozen email responses and more than 100 Facebook comments, here's what else readers had to say.
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Many readers agreed their favorite third places included local parks, especially Lakeside Park, as well as trails, pools and even the Fondy Sports Park and Aqua Park on County Road D.
They added, however, that their options become limited when the weather is too cold to enjoy the parks and trails.
One of the commonly commented on places is both indoors and free, and Mel Kolstad said it's her favorite in Fond du Lac: the library.
Kolstad said she's a big reader and enjoys the library's adult programming, and she's also the curator of the Langdon Divers Gallery right inside the library, which changes exhibits every month and celebrates each new exhibit with a reception.
Other indoor places readers offered included downtown stores, local sit-down and fast casual restaurants, and the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts.
Activity-based places included The Great Escape escape rooms, Fondy Axe Company for ax throwing and Korneli's on the Avenue for roller skating. A few readers expressed their anticipation for the upcoming completion of the Fond du Lac Odyssey 8 movie theater renovation.
Some readers say their spaces get 'boring' after a while, but what can be done?
A few readers have gotten too used to existing spaces in the area, particularly long-standing places to readers who have lived in Fond du Lac for a long time, and said they've "gotten boring" after visiting them multiple times.
Some of those readers, however, also gave a solution: these places could benefit from organized events to add variety not just to their spaces, but also to people's days.
Another criticism on Fond du Lac's third place scene was the loss of the Forest Mall, which several readers said had been their third place over the years, but nothing had taken its place since the mall was torn down in 2020.
Indoor athletic activities top reader suggestions among all-ages spaces
The No. 1 suggestion on readers' wish lists was an indoor athletic park — sometimes called a trampoline park or indoor playground — similar to Sky Zone in Milwaukee and Madison. The appeal is that they're indoor, engaging places that are appropriate for most ages and would be available year-round.
For example, Jenna Piotrzkowski said she loves that Fond du Lac is trying to expand and grow more, and she can see those changes happening, which she hopes could someday include an indoor park.
"My family would like to see more indoor athletic spaces such as a ninja gym, rock-climbing center, trampoline park and mini golf," she said. "Our kids are always looking for fun indoor places to play."
An all-ages community center could offer gathering opportunities and co-working space.
Age appropriateness was a big factor in choosing third places, with many readers wanting to see more places for teenagers as well as those 21-30 who don't want to go to bars. A popular suggestion was a community center, friendly to all ages, that could support local activities or even co-working space.
Noah Ryan said growing up in Fond du Lac, he's struggled to find positively stimulating, healthy and sustainable activities in the area, and often found himself "wandering around town on my bike exploring the nooks and crannies of Fond du Lac I had not yet discovered."
While some say Fond du Lac is great because it's surrounded by communities that offer authentic and unique third places, he said lack of transportation could become an issue for many.
"I envision a sort of space for teenage kids, college students and the general public to work, study and hang out," he said. "A place that serves teas, smoothies, coffee, light food options, etc. This place would be open later in the day, until 10 p.m. maybe, just to accommodate the night life most of us crave, but do not obtain as we want to avoid the bar scenes of Fond du Lac."
Similarly, Amy Ebert said the community needs to come together and re-think social gathering and what it looks like in Fond du Lac, suggesting a multi-use space that could support large and small gatherings — something that's centrally located, has ample parking and is easy to rent or visit.
"Fond du Lac needs a good social space that is welcoming, easy to use, accessible and affordable to all," she said. "The community needs a place to gather, needs more diverse activities in that gathering place and needs some partners to help spread the word."
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More suggestions for future third places include cultural hangouts and botanical gardens.
Third on the list was a botanical garden, as well as similarly nature-focused spaces, along with museums and culturally focused hangouts.
Some readers want more locally owned and "cozy" coffee shops — as well as themed cafes, like a board game café or a night café — and others want a variety to the bar scene by adding a brewery or a sober bar.
Entertainment and the arts was also a priority, with readers enjoying the efforts the THELMA contributes to Fond du Lac and wanting to see more of the same.
Kate Weinke said she loves anything to do with fashion, history, the arts, skating and dancing, and would like to see more things along those lines, including entertainment spaces, concert halls, teen-friendly and adult-friendly discos, and a pump track for rollerblading.
Last on the list was a suggestion by one reader, which wasn't necessarily a third place itself but would connect Fond du Lac to its existing and future options for third places. The reader suggested making Fond du Lac more pedestrian-friendly, creating a more walkable city that doesn't require vehicles as a prerequisite to see what Fond du Lac has to offer.
Share your ideas! Contact Daphne Lemke at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac places to hang out: People love parks, want indoor space
