2013 Wish List For Parks is a Long One

Craig Anderson, the city's director of parks and recreation, has mentioned it in previous meetings, but how well everyone was listening will be known at budget time.

A growing need for various items to maintain Muskego's parks, along with a new venture at Park Arthur, and a dwindling balance in the park dedication fund will mean a larger than normal request at budget time.

"Tax dollars just aren't used to develop our parks," Anderson told the Park and Recreation Board last week. "Our usual funding sources are also nearly spent, with the park dedication fund down to $150,000 and only 10 percent of the landfill revenues are earmarked for parks."

Anderson outlined a list of needs, prioritizing it from greatest needs to those that can wait another year or so, and even keeping spending to the highest priority, Anderson estimated the cost at $1.5 million in 2013.

"We kept hearing throughout the lake park debate that we don't maintain our parks, so if we're truly to do that, we need to consider what it's going to cost," Anderson said.

Of that total, the majority would be spent in Park Arthur to complete the College Avenue entrance ($235,000), finish the three smaller baseball fields ($145,500) and place lights in the large field ($406,000) there.

would also receive a facelift of sorts with new laminate installed at the skateboard park and sand volleyball courts there as well. Members of the board liked these additions because of their cost and because it would enhance an area that is easy to get to, visible and provided an activity that didn't exist in any other park.

A new wheelchair accessible pier at ($63,000) as well as a recreational trail along Racine Avenue ($275,000) were also listed as a 2013 priority.

Anderson pointed out that the $1.48 million price tag for these priorities didn't include potential grants or partnerships that would offset the costs. Organizations like the Muskego Athletic Association and select leagues have indicated interest in .

He admitted that the discussion is just beginning at the department level before the budget is forwarded on to the Common Council in late August.

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