A Stevens Point firm designing an outdoor sports facilities master plan for the Lakeland Union High School presented three possibilities to locate the “T-Bird Country” bridge panel to the finance committee Thursday, June 23rd.
The option committee members are most excited about is placing the iron structure in a new plaza between the commons entrance and what will be known as the stadium field. It would rest on engineered pillars designed to withstand high winds. “Is there anybody on the committee that would prefer it (near) the highway? asked Director of Activities Don Scharbarth. That was one option; the other being midway between the two others. “Not after looking at this,” replied committee and school board member Ed Schaub. “This is giving it (the bridge panel) the prominence that the community is looking for as well,” said another member. Scott Groholski, president of Point of Beginning (POB), said it was his team’s preference also. That site offers more interaction with students and the public, he said. For instance, bleachers could be placed underneath for team and reunion photographs. The school’s pep band could play there during games. “It’s a pedestrian friendly area,” he said, envisioning where students could hang out and where dads could mingle with other dads while watching the games.
Placing it near the school’s entrance, next to Highway 70 West, isn’t as desirable, he said. While motorists could see it from the highway, it would only be a fleeting glance. People standing by the structure could pose a safety issue with drivers using the parking lot. However, placing it at the LUHS entrance was preferred location of Minocqua businessman Bob Metropulos, Jr., who is spearheading the movement to save the iconic iron railroad bridge that spans Highway 51 south of Hazelhurst. The bridge’s legacy rests, in part, because of the “T-Bird Country” graffiti painted on it years ago. Matt Cyran, POB landscape design technician, will work up a 3D model of the plaza, bridge panel, and the exterior of the commons area. It would be used as a selling point for fundraising efforts, said Scharbarth, asking for a quick turnaround time. It did not have to be true to the final product, but sufficient to get positive responses. Schaub picked up on that thread. “I don’t want this to drag out,” he said. “I want to move on this thing. I can’t make that any clearer. We have had way too many projects that have just dragged.”
The meeting was held to gather “preliminary thoughts,” as Grohowski characterized it. A parking lot redesign gained an additional 24 stalls. “That is awesome,” said Scharbarth. But the suggested concrete islands to direct motorist parking drew a frown from Director of Buildings and Grounds Dave Arnold, who said snowplowing around them would be a hassle. A suggestion to switch the softball fields from the east side of the building to the west side was briefly considered but rejected. As was the idea to move the concessions elsewhere. If that was done, then that portion would not quality for Act 32 funding, which allows the district to levy additionally for energy savings measures. Such funding goes only for current building footprint, not new structures.
The POB staff will look at tweaking the softball fields, and shifting the shot put area of the track and field layout. Scharbarth reminded the group that they should refer to the football field as the “stadium field,” as soccer will also be played there. Members discussed having something, perhaps painted, on the backside of the bridge panel facing the stadium field, although they did not drill down to specifics. While not discussed further, it was also brought up that it would be nice to have the other bridge panel donated to the school. But one member said the bridge panel would bring $18,000 in scrap metal prices. No specific date has been set for the bridge panel removal to the high school. It will be first sandblasted and repainted, ironically with graffiti-proof paint. POB will also develop ideas for the underside of the new bleachers.
