Playground at Franklin Park in Fond du Lac, September 25, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Improvements in the City of Fond du Lac are being celebrated, after two different ribbon-cutting ceremonies at two different parks.
A tightly-stretched length of plastic ribbon was little match for the pair of big blue scissors Monday morning. The playground at Franklin Park in Fond du Lac is officially open for business. There’s a brightly-painted mural along the perimeter fence, and upgrades to the basketball court. Parks Superintendent John Redmond says a brand new playground was needed.
“The previous playground was actually a bit low. So, when you got moisture, a lot of rain, we actually had water sitting in the playground. So the kids weren’t able to play and it just got real muddy. So what we did with this one, is we’re able to keep is up about 12 inches, and keep the moisture away from that. And also what we did, it we do have a wheelchair accessible area, so people can get in the playground with a wheelchair,” said John Redmond, Fond du Lac City Parks Superintendent.
Redmond says an American Rescue Plan Act grant paid for the $240,000 project.
About a mile and a half to the north, at Adelaide Park, a new pickleball court was dedicated. City Manager Joe Moore says there will be one tennis court, and six for pickleball.
“Pickleball is a new sport that has been growing so much in the past years, and the pickleball players have continued to urge us to build more pickleball courts, because they love to play,” said Joe Moore, Fond du Lac City Manager.
Officials say the city budget funded the $175,000 project. And while a pesky drizzle kept players off the pickleball court, City Council President Keith Heisler says the improvements have an impact.
“Kids need places to play, number one, and I think that we’ve all learned is that outdoor recreation has been incredibly important to cities such as ours, and I think, if you upgrade the facilities, it brings a better quality of life to all the residents,” said Keith Heisler, Fond du Lac City Council President.
There are 22 public parks in the City of Fond du Lac.
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