Construction to Begin on YMCA Peterson Park

Construction on a ten acre public park north of the YMCA on Michigan Avenue will begin the second week of July.  The park will be constructed on property owned by the YMCA and will be open to the community without regard to YMCA membership.  The YMCA owned and managed park will be a “park for the community” and be named Peterson Park.   A gift from Carla and Ellsworth Peterson funded the acquisition of the property in 2013 and will fully fund the initial phase of construction and improvements.

Initial improvements to the property will include the installation of additional walking paths, a new sports field, a restroom facility, a small amphitheater for exercise classes and youth  programming and preparation of the site to accommodate future amenities to include a playground, multi-purpose sports court, sand volleyball and a splash pad.  When the park opens in the spring of 2015 it will include nearly three quarters of a mile of walking paths.  Discussions are currently in progress with local partners to improve selected areas of the site as prairie gardens.  Future plans also include a sculpture garden area.  Rass Excavating will be the general contractor on the project.

This project has been included in the City’s master park plan.  Currently there is not a city park in this area of the city.  It is hoped that additional funds will be raised this year to construct a community playground area on the south end of the park property west of the existing pavilion in the spring of next year.

“The YMCA is pleased to be able to provide this unique public amenity for our community.  This project is another testimony to the extraordinary generosity of the Peterson family” YMCA CEO Tom Beerntsen explained.  “We will continue to add program components to the Park area as funding becomes available” Beerntsen explained.  Opportunities to honor or memorialize friends and families will also be available in the future.  A program to plant trees and install benches throughout the park will be announced later this summer.

City Administrator, Steve McNeil, explained that this park project is a further example of how the YMCA continues to serve Sturgeon Bay.  “The new park project is a continuation of the Y’s commitment to serve the entire community.  The City of Sturgeon Bay and the Y have a long history of working together to improve the lives of our families.  This new project will make our community an even better place to live” McNeil commented.

A ground breaking is planned for the Monday, July 7th.  For further information on how to donate to the installation of future amenities to the Peterson Park project, please contact Tom Beerntsen or Cindy Weber, the YMCA Vice President of Resource Development, at the YMCA.