Hub Park addresses inequality, needs your support on May 10

UPDATE AFTER COUNCIL MEETING

The park design and budget passed council on May 10, 2022 with a custom option that removes two elements:

1. No ice rick

2. No cover for hardcourt

The park shelter and the bike pump track remains in the design.

I advocated strongly for the full design and I’m disappointed the council would not support it. However, this will be a beautiful park and one of the best parks in the Fitchburg, despite the reduced design. I look forward to the construction of this park in 2023.

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ORGINAL POST

R-45-22 will determine a design and budget for the Hub Park. The vote is on Tuesday, May 10 at the Common Council Meeting. The Fitchburg City Council needs to hear from the community. Please read on to learn about why this park matters, the park design, and how to submit feedback to council for the May 10 vote.

WHAT IS THE HUB PARK?

The Hub Park is a future park in the North Fish Hatchery Neighborhood (Leopold Neighborhood). The park is located on Traceway Drive, just off Fish Hatchery Road, across from the golf course and the Highline.

THE HUB PARK ADDRESSES A SERIOUS SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY

Eleven percent of Fitchburg’s population lives in this neighborhood, but there is zero accessible city park space. Fitchburg became a city in 1983, and for almost 40 years there has been no investment in recreational space (aside from the golf course that you must pay to use).

This lack of city park space is one of the most egregious structural inequalities in the City of Fitchburg.

The Hub Park is located in one of Fitchburg’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative priority neighborhoods, which is identified because of disparities in the neighborhood compared to other parts of Fitchburg. The area housing is entirely made up of multi-family housing, much of it lower income.

ALDER GERHARDT’S OPINION

Read Legislative Opinion by Alders Gerhardt and Arata-Fratta

We owe a debt to this neighborhood. Generations of children have been born and grown to adulthood without a city park. This is unacceptable. We must address this inequity NOW by building an outstanding park. It is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do.

It has been a fight to move this project up to the current timeline, and because Fitchburg has delayed this project for decades, we now face rising costs due to inflation and supply chain issues. But let’s be clear, we have the capacity to pay for this park in full. Choosing to reduce the park design is a choice, not a necessity.

This park will also benefit the entire city. The bike pump track will be unique in the region. The space is ideal for community events year round. It will attract new development, new businesses, and regrowth of the Fish Hatchery corridor, which we just spent millions of dollars rebuilding.

On May 10, Council votes on a final budget and park design for Phase 1 of the project

Resolution R-45-22 approves the final design and budget for Phase 1 of the project. To pass, it needs a 2/3 vote (6 votes out of 8 council members). There are four options for design to choose from:

• Option A: Park as designed.

• Parks Commission Option: No ice rink. Includes fully covered hardcourt and all other design elements.
  *Also recommended by the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Committee

• Option B: No ice rink, half-covered hardcourt instead of full cover.

• Option C: No ice rick, no cover for hardcourt, no bike pump track, reduced shelter.

• Option D: Designed by council.

Continue scrolling to learn how to submit feedback on R-45-22

What does the full design park look like?

1. Playground, yard game lawn, terrace with seating

2. Hardcourt with full cover (for year-round recreation)

3. Ice rink feature (goes on top of the covered hardcourt during the winter months)

4. Park shelter with indoor rooms (for year-round city and rental use)

   *Please note this is NOT a community center, just a park shelter with indoor space. A potential community center in the area would be part of Phase 2, which is a few years away

5. All-wheels track (serving bikes, skateboards, etc.) unique to the region.

You can see more concept art in a recent presentation.

HOW TO SUBMIT FEEDBACK ON R-45-22

1. BEST OPTION: Attend the May 10 council meeting at 7:30 pm and give a 3 minute testimony. Come to city hall (5520 Lacy Road), go to council chambers, fill out the testimony form, and wait for your turn to speak for 3 minutes. Can’t attend in person? You can attend on video. Email me to get a zoom link.

2. Register support for R-45-22. Sign with your name and Fitchburg address to Council&Mayor@fitchburgwi.gov. You may include a message to the council about why you support or oppose, but that statement won’t be read aloud at the meeting.

3. Contact your alders by phone or email. Find their contact information here. Lobbying your alders makes a difference! Phone calls in particular.

HOW TO WATCH THE MEETING

1. Watch live at the Fitchburg City website

2. Watch the YouTube video posted the day following the meeting

Thank you for reading and considering submitting feedback on May 10. I hope to see some of you there!