A new fountain and larger farmers' market space could be in future vision for Fountain Park

SHEBOYGAN – More than 50 community members engaged in a meeting about the future of Fountain Park with the hopes of revitalizing the park for the next generation of park goers.

In coordination with the Department of Public Works, Principal Landscape Architect Blake Theisen and Designer and Ecology Specialist John Reynolds from Madison-based landscape architecture firm Parkitecture gave a July 10 presentation on proposed features of the park and larger layout designs at the Kiwanis Park Fieldhouse.

Community members had the chance to offer feedback on both aspects of the Fountain Park plans described in the presentation and outlined on poster boards.

Some estimates put the community use of Fountain Park dating back to the late 1800s. Today, it hosts events like the Farmers’ Market and the Early Bird Rotary Club lobster boil.

“It’s a well-loved, time-tested park, but as you probably know a lot of the facilities have aged out,” Thiesen said to the crowd at the meeting. “So, our challenge is to take all this input and give you guys a path forward that is responsible, sustainable and adaptable to uses as they change over time.”

Among various projects, Parkitecture designed Two Rivers’ Central Park West, with a new park pavilion, patio, music stage, skating rink, splash pad and picnic area.

The firm met with several major Fountain Park users — Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization (farmers' market); Pops Band; Visit Sheboygan; Harbor Centre Business Improvement District; Board of Marina, Parks, and Forestry Commissioners; Sheboygan County Transportation Department and the Sheboygan Parks & Forestry Department — to inform possible designs before collecting public input.

Several of those elements taken into consideration include ways to expand the farmers' market, activate more areas of the park during four seasons and engage younger people.

Other changes proposed replacing the fountain, adding an interactive spray/play element and constructing a new support building that could house restrooms and electrical equipment.

Travis Peterson, the newly confirmed director of Public Works, said he’s seen from previous experience in economic development how a focus on the downtown, in areas like a park, can invite more people into the area.

“This is really exciting for me,” he said about being involved in the Fountain Park revitalization.

Fountain Park could see larger market, socializing spaces

A market space, flexible space, support building, lighting, furnishings and non-traditional play area were new features proposed by Parkitecture.

Those elements were put into three different "bubble” concepts on individual maps, indicating where they could possibly go throughout the park.

The “Ring” concept proposed a promenade path circling activated spaces, like an event space, water feature, support building and hammocks and games area.

It also proposed replacing the bandshell on the corner of North Ninth Street and Ontario Avenue with a lawn space and expanding the market space to North Eighth Street.

No plans call for closing the downtown road, but Thiesen bounced ideas off the group, like temporarily closing it for events or for a specific time period.

Aware of concerns around shutting down the road, Peterson said people could be more motivated to go into nearby stores if they’re already congregating in the extended market area.

The “Triangle” concept proposed redesigning walkways to expand out from a market space along North Eighth Street. There would be a multipurpose space for a plaza, market and ice skating between that area, and a larger building with a market space and restroom. An event space, social area and several art spaces were included in the design, too.

The “Tee” concept proposed activated spaces moving in a T-formation out from the market space along North Eighth Street, including two lawn areas and community building and plaza.

The latter two designs proposed narrowing North Eighth Street and utilizing parking behind the Sheboygan County Health and Human Services building. Thiesen said the two spaces could be connected through the alleyway on the building’s north side, made more inviting with murals and lights.

Community members raised a point that parking behind the building is often not available on Wednesdays during the farmers' market. It seemed another parking solution is needed.

“If we do this park right, there are going to be more people trying to act or be in that space, and they have to park somewhere,” Theisen said. “So maybe this is a potential solution, or partner in our development."

The “Ring” design had the most approval stickers from attendees.

Proposal suggests removing the aged bandshell and replacing the fountain

Though the proposed ideas didn’t call for removing the Civil War monument on the corner of North Eighth Street and Ontario Avenue, the Spanish-American War memorial to the north could possibly move slightly north to create symmetry, according to Thiesen.

Most of the designs called for adding a new fountain, getting rid of the existing bandshell, adding an ice ribbon and replacing the restroom facilities.

Superintendent of Parks and Forestry Joe Kerlin said the fountain is a safety concern. Bricks may fall in, and underground mechanics are outdated. Staff have to tape off the fountain every time it stops working, too.

The fountain dates to 1876, when it was erected to commemorate the United States’ centennial celebration as a nation. Water was pumped from the fountain to a bottling plant in the now Health and Human Services building around that time, believed to have medicinal properties.

Efforts in the 1960s and 1970s aimed to restore the fountain and park to a former “town square” for the bicentennial, but funding reduced plans to remodeling walkways and the fountain, according to Sheboygan Press archives.

As for the bandshell, Thiesen said he didn't hear an overwhelming demand from major park users to keep the bandshell, which is outdated. The vision for the park is to still have a performance venue that isn’t aimed to compete with City Green, which hosts the Levitt Amp Music Series, he continued.

He said an ice ribbon could increase utilization of the park during the winter, something they saw in the Two Rivers project.

An ice ribbon was included in the design concept for the marina revitalization project, too. When asked by a community member if there would be an ice ribbon at Fountain Park and Deland Park, Thiesen said they’d coordinate with the marina project planners and the city further along in design process.

Although park staff maintain cleanliness in the restrooms, Superintendent of Parks and Forestry Joe Kerlin said the humidity inside leads to frequent repainting. The building is showing its age.

Other possible updates community members shared for consideration were making the walkways ADA compliant, addressing a lack of parking and engaging local businesses surrounding the park.

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Funding source for Fountain Park changes undetermined

A project cost estimation won't be determined until a final plan is finished and phased, according to discussion at the meeting. Additionally, the city isn’t sure how it would fund changes to Fountain Park yet.

Thiesen mentioned Parkitecture would help the city research grant opportunities and that it may benefit from park impact fees gained from nearby housing developments, which must contribute a portion of funds to the betterment of park facilities.

Community could have another opportunity for public input

Thiesen said Parkitecture anticipates having another opportunity for public input but isn’t sure what format that’ll take.

The firm hopes to have a final concept design by the end of the year, phased out for construction and funding purposes.

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This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan, architect firm share proposed plans for Fountain Park