Idle Isle Improvements Include Signage, Boat Wash Station

Lisa Niles, a Little Muskego Lake Association (LMLA) member who helped coordinate shoreline last fall, was back at the table to talk about the phase II and III efforts for the island.

Appearing at the Muskego Parks and Recreation board meeting Monday night, Niles explained the next order of business would be to order signage for the park, including small placards to identify the plantings. Larger signs would recognize donors that provided materials and money to fund the landscape improvements from last year.

Additionally, a new park sign would mirror the parks' updated look, which incorporates the City of Muskego logo, featuring the grasses seen on the gateway signage and those at the business park and city hall. Some concern was raised over the coloration of the signs, which will be predominantly tan with dark green lettering.

Alderman Dan Soltysiak pointed out that the city has never officially developed a branding guide for departments to follow, but Parks Director Craig Anderson maintained that the parks department has always been consistent with the look of its signs and said that as signs are replaced they are updated to match.

Overall board members felt that the city's logo was the unifying piece, and that its use of green (versus the blue seen in other signs) was what distinguished it as a park sign.

Niles told the board that the large sign would cost about $1600, and if specific striping were added to the top of the sign, the DNR would likely pay for half of it. The welcome sign would feature a different message on its backside, to be determined later. The LMLA is hoping to raise additional for the sign with the balance to be covered by the parks department.

Phase III plans would include a boat wash station at the launch site, which Niles said they weren't sure would get done this year or not. However, hearing a proposal for enhancements at the park pavilion including plumbing, she thought there may be an opportunity to make it happen this year.

"We know that if we get this done, the DNR has also offered to staff it for the first year, to show boaters what to look for on their boats and trailers," Niles said. "We didn't know if we could also get this done this year, but if they're planning on doing additional plumbing work, which we will need also, there may be an opportunity to do so and save a little money."

Future plans for by the LMLA also include the construction of a boardwalk, and retractable piers to encourage boat traffic to the island.