New shelter slated for Old Schoolhouse Park

Interim City Administrator Luayn Ruch and Park Board Chair Mike Wagner discussed some of the conflicts involved with getting the shelter approved.

Efforts were shot down twice over the years. They date back to when Luayn Ruch was Mayer’s official city administrator and not the interim one. She vacated the position for several years before returning as the interim. Now, Wagner jokes, “Luayn was here when it started and here when it got approved.”

Wagner says they have wanted to showcase Old Schoolhouse Park as more of a centerpiece of the town since 2012. He acknowledges that some community members wanted to put in a municipal swimming pool, but after doing the research, the park board discovered that a pool would be too expensive to maintain. Eventually, the idea of a splash pad grew on them. Wagner says, “Splash pads are more manageable and they’re just a nice gathering place for parents and children.”

Really, the overall logistics of building the new shelter became its greatest obstacle.

It is going to be constructed at Old Schoolhouse Park where the old Public Works building now stands. Questions arose about what to do with the old building. It was only being used for storage. The park board discussed converting it into the new picnic shelter. Other conversations revolved around raising the old public works building off its foundation and moving it to another location. The city’s engineers said no to both options because the building was not up to code and was not worth using.

Now, the old public works building will be torn down. Ruch says Henning Construction out of New Germany will tear it down, but they currently have no date scheduled for the demolition. Like lots of construction companies, Henning is a little backed up right now, but everyone involved expects the building to be demolished yet this summer.

Shortly thereafter, construction will begin. Ruch said on June 27, the Mayer City Council authorized bidding for the new picnic shelter. On July 19 at 2 p.m., the council will have a public hearing to discuss the bids. Then, on July 25, the council will decide which construction company they will hire to move forward with the work.

The City of Mayer expects the shelter to be completed by May of 2023. The splash pad completion date could come as early as 2024. They’re taking things one step at a time, building the shelter with plenty of room to put in the splash pad later.

Wagner says Kyle Kuntz, Maggie McCallum, and Ruch have all been instrumental in getting the plans approved and moving the project along.