Lottes Park

The Lottes Park driveway and parking lot did, in fact, get some new crushed rock this year, but as you can see it needs some more. There are also some low areas that collect water. The park could use more defined parking and driving areas at some point. Nonetheless, this park is a phenomenally popular public boat launch. The floating pier (you can barely see it in the background of one photo.) is similar to what we would like to see at Winnequah Trial and Tonyawatha Boat landings.

Veterans Memorial at Monona's Ahuska Park - Part One

Significant progress has been made toward the completion of the Dane County Veterans Memorial at Monona's Ahuska Park. The granite star was installed in 2006. New vertical panels and name plates were installed in 2008. According to the story in the Herald Independent, the seven vertical panels list the 636 Dane County residents who were killed in action back to and including WWI.

The project needs just $12,000 to finish the job.

"Individuals, corporations and foundations that are interested in helping finance the final $12,000 should contact Steve Halverson at Edwards Jones Investments, 222-1600. The dedication of the monument is tentatively set for Saturday, May 16, 2009. More details will be forthcoming as the date draws near."

Dane County Veteran's Monument nears completion in Ahuska Park

Veterans Memorial at Monona's Ahuska Park - Part Two

More photos of the Dane County Veterans Memorial at Ahuska Park in Monona.

For donations to fund the final $12,000 should contact Steve Halverson at Edwards Jones Investments, 222-1600. The dedication of the monument is tentatively set for Saturday, May 16, 2009.

Ahuska Park Part One

Ahuska Park is a mixed bag. In some ways it is one of the jewels of the Monona Parks. Good to excellent facilities. To the good: Two soccer fields (in decent shape, but with some dirt patches), a lighted 8-court tennis complex, exceptional baseball diamond (Home Talent's Monona group does much of the work there), the Veterans Memorial, a nice shelter, and the Farmers Market. It is one of the city's most heavily used parks, especially by nonresidents, and is in a very visible location.

On the other hand, the grass is very patchy; some of it is very luxuriant, but then there are numerous open spots. The soccer fields are a work in progress, but should get better with the excellent drain filed the city installed. It needs new trees in my opinion. The ones that are there do not seem to be thriving and are still quite small.

Overall, an excellent facility with very fixable deficiencies.

Ahuska Park Part Two

More Ahuska Park photos. These pictures are at the end of the season. There may have been more woodchips in the playground earlier in the summer, but I don't think so.

Frost Woods Beach Park

Frost Woods Beach Park is in good shape. The beach can always use cleaning and probably a little sand. The Frost Woods Neighborhood Assn. does a nice job. Somebody even raked the leaves! Nice ducks.

Bridge Road Park

Bridge Road Park looks great with new rubber chips, a new sand play area, new benches, and a timber framework. Good playground equipment. A good standard for our neighborhood parks.

Frost Woods Park

Frost Woods Park is in decent shape, but the baskteball court is about shot, uhh, worn out and the ball field needs work. The playground equipment is a big aged, but not quite vintage.

M.Y. Dream Park

M.Y. Dream Park is still a great community asset, but is showing its age. I believe City staff is planning some rehab. New woodchips were placed this year. Rubber chips would be great, but expensive.

Tecumseh Park and Belle Isle Road Work

The road work actually turned out pretty well. There is still a low spot that collects water right by Tecumseh Park. The photo of the end of the street shows where high water can get through even though it looks like a barrier.

The mud pile is from a project on private property and I think is allowed under our current ordinances.

Oneida Park Photos

The new playground equipment looks great. The project is not finished and there is construction debris that needs to be removed. There are a few dirt piles too - not sure what the plan is.