Two parks and recreation projects are moving forward in Two Rivers.
The city council last night approved a resolution to move a question to voters in the Spring 2025 election, which, if approved, would allow for a feasibility study to be done to create a new community pool after the Two Rivers Family Swim Center shut down last year.
City Manager Greg Buckley told the council that the city would also be allowed to exceed its levy cap for the pool by collecting between $80,000 to $100,000 in property taxes.
That’s how much it would cost to run the pool every year.
Services for the feasibility study must be completed by the end of this month, and a consultant must be selected by August.
This follows Parks and Rec Director Mike Mathis’s presentation last week about the pool’s Ad Hoc Committee.
The council also approved the Riverside Park Master Plan after a presentation by Mathis last week as well.
Two Rivers Resident Andre Robitaille told the council during public comment that he’s in favor of the project but wants the city to state what the purpose of the park is before it moves forward, especially with the lack of space the park offers.
“Make it fit into the park system overall, but especially have it serve the neighborhood,” he stated. “This means talking to people in that neighborhood, not a survey that included people outside of Two Rivers and at least one person from out of the state. And this is my strongest point, engage the community actively, and in a targeted way for that neighborhood. It’s a small park, make it really good for those people who are within walking distance.
Councilwoman Bonnie Shimulunas agreed.
“Before they put the skate park in the first, they notified people in the neighborhood,” she described. “The city met with them. We met in the shelter, so you can get your answers. My biggest concern was the noise. It is noisy.”
The park project would include expanding the playground equipment and clearing the riverfront area for development.
The future of the skate park, which has been a point of discussion, would change in a few years.
Funding for the park improvements would most likely be coming from Wisconsin DNR grants, but the city could fundraise for some of the project as well.
