Park projects are ongoing for city this spring,summer

The completion of the floodwall project in Lakefront Park, and the beginning of development of the old Hudson Memorial Hospital site as a park, are among the city of Hudson’s plans for the spring and summer.

Paving the pathways in the area of Lakefront Park between the dike road and the boat launch is part of the work still remaining on the long-drawn-out floodwall project.

The City Council in February authorized its consulting engineering firm, Bonestroo, to draw up plans for planting grass, trees, shrubs and perennials around the walkways and floodwalls. Stamped concrete paving blocks and benches also will be installed.

The total additional cost to complete the project started in late 2006 was estimated at $99,250.

The two floodwalls that were installed last fall by Pember Companies are expected to prevent much of the spring flooding that would occur almost yearly in the southern portion of Lakefront Park.

Pember Companies was contracted to re-do much of work done by a previous contractor after a floodwall installed by that company in late 2006 began to settle.

The old hospital site has stood largely unchanged since the city purchased it for just over $1 million in August of 2006. The city still expects to receive a $500,000 grant from the state Department of Natural Resources to help pay for the roughly six acres.

Last winter, Marc Putman of Putman Planning & Design drew up a design proposal for the old hospital site at the request of Mayor Jack Breault.

Putman reportedly donated his services. His firm previously was hired by the city to draft development guidelines and design standards for the downtown.

Park Board Chairman Pat Casanova said the board hasn’t settled on a final design for the old hospital site, but Zappa Brothers Excavating will grade it this spring. There’s a large hole where the old medical center stood that needs to be filled.

The part of the design that Casanova is confident will be implemented is the development of a multi-purpose athletic field. The plan is to make it big enough for three T-ball diamonds that the Hudson Boosters could use. It also could serve as a soccer and football field.

The Park Board also is “fairly committed” to creating a pathway leading from the park to the Third Street hill, Casanova said. The pathway would follow the route of an old trail and provide a link between the park and the downtown, he said.

There also has been talk of opening up an old cistern that was the city’s first water storage facility. It would serve as an observation deck looking out over the St. Croix River valley.

“It’s all preliminary conjuring at this time, but it’s worth investigating,” Casanova said.

He said the Park Board will be working on the design for the old hospital site in the weeks ahead. The plan is to incorporate the site into Prospect Park.

Other projects the Park Board is considering for the summer include installing irrigation equipment at Grandview Park and continuing the development of Weitkamp Park, Casanova said.

He said the overall plan for Weitkamp Park includes a picnic pavilion with restrooms.

Tags: news, hudson, city, parks