Ten Club Park options examined

By Dave Fidlin

Correspondent

As planning for the future of Ten Club Park in the downtown continues to gain momentum, Village of Waterford officials have turned their attention toward the cornerstone of the site — the Fox River.

The village has been working with civil engineering firm Baxter and Woodman with some of the logistics at the site. One of the more technical planning aspects is aimed at reducing erosion.

The Village Board on Oct. 27 discussed the possibility of installing infrastructure known as seawall along the embankment of the river. The Plan Commission had discussed the issue previously Oct. 15, but did not provide the board with a firm recommendation.

One other shielding device, riprap, is also on the table to prevent erosion at the park. Riprap has been used along other portions of the Fox River.

However, there has been less support toward riprap, which uses assorted rock formations as a makeshift wall between land and water, because it could take up existing space that currently is used for parkland.

“This is an extremely visible area of land,” Village Administrator Rebecca Ewald commented. “If we went with (rip rap), sections of the park could be lost.”

A firm decision has not yet been made on which method will be implemented at the park, but the village is planning to spend upward of $1,900 for Baxter and Woodman’s planning services.

While the park space is a key factor in shielding the embankment, there are other considerations to take into account as well, including state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations and where existing utilities are located.

The seawall-riprap debate is expected to continue at future Plan Commission and Village Board meetings.

The Ten Park overhaul has been eyed for 2018 alongside the state’s reconstruction of highways 83 and 20. A number of proposals have been floated for the future of the park space, including a splash pad, new playground equipment, brick paving accents and decorative light fixtures.