CEDARBURG 鈥 An idea from over three decades ago to create a Creek Walk along Cedar Creek in Cedarburg has once again grown interest and could possibly be completed.
Paul Rushing, who has spearheaded this project since the beginning, approached the Cedarburg Economic Development Board on Wednesday to propose completing the Creek Walk with Adam Voltz of The Kubala Washatko Architects in Cedarburg, who is also a member of the Plan Commission and the city committee that reviews fa莽ade grants.
Rushing and Voltz will also give a presentation about the Creek Walk to the Common Council at 7 p.m. Monday in the council chambers of City Hall, W63N645 Washington Ave.
Over the last 30 years, sections of the Creek Walk have been completed, with its reach going from Cedar Creek Park to Boy Scout Park. But in order to complete the Creek Walk, there is a gap that needs to be completed between the north property line of Advent Lutheran Church to the north property line of Blind Horse Winery.
鈥淭he phenomenon of being able to walk from one end of Cedarburg to the other along the creek听with all of the related implications for the business community 鈥 would have a profound impact on all of us,鈥 said Voltz, who led the presentation.
Rushing told the SM天地论坛 Graphic that the Creek Walk could be a major economic and recreational driver in the city, comparing it to the San Antonio River Walk in San Antonio, Texas.
Voltz explained that for the new section, they would use a method of drilling a 4-inch pier with cross beams and a plank surface for the entire length, including railings where necessary.
The project has not had universal support over the years; some property owners on Washington Avenue along Cedar Creek refused to grant an easement for the Creek Walk. Rushing said he has heard from business owners who were concerned that the Creek Walk would take people away from their businesses, which was also discussed at the board meeting.
In addition to finishing this last section of the Creek Walk, Voltz mentioned upgrades to the other existing sections of it, such as:
- building a protected midblock pedestrian crosswalk on Columbia Road to connect the existing section of the Creek Walk by Rebellion Brewing to the existing section on the north side of the Columbia Road bridge;
- revising the Creek Walk behind the Cedarburg Fire Station to make that accessible by a way of a ramp with little bump outs;
- providing a number of bump outs along the trail for seating and picnic tables;
- installing lighting and signage along the path;
- repaving areas of the existing path that have become deteriorated; and
- reassessing the existing landscaping.
鈥淚t is truly a new Cedarburg park,鈥 Voltz said.
The estimated cost of creating a new section between Advent Lutheran Church and Blind Horse Winery, which could start next year, is $1.86 million and the cost of upgrading the other existing sections of the path is estimated to cost about $2.95 million.
City Administrator Mikko Hilvo said the goal is to privately fund the project through grants and donations. He added that if the project is approved by the Common Council, the city would apply for a stewardship grant.
The other point made by Voltz was the need to set up a maintenance program of the Creek Walk through the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, which the city would have to budget for annually. The city currently maintains the existing path, but Hilvo said it hasn鈥檛 been well maintained in some sections.
The presentation had a focus on how businesses serving food and drinks could use the Creek Walk, which Ann Denk of Wyndrose Fine Jewelry noted during public comment and asked the board to evaluate this project from the standpoint of a retail business.
She added that the board should focus more on the businesses south of Columbia Road to Brandywine than behind the buildings on Washington Avenue. Board member Anna Marie Armbruster of Armbruster Jewelers had questions about how the Creek Walk could impact retail businesses. She was also concerned, like business owners in the past, with the path taking people away from Washington Avenue by taking them behind the businesses.
鈥淔rom a retail perspective, I put a lot of money into my storefront and windows and getting people to shop my store, so putting them behind my business, I鈥檓 a little bit concerned that some retailers will lose some foot traffic because they鈥檒l go behind and they won鈥檛 see what some of the retailers have to offer,鈥 she said Rushing said he thought there would be the same amount of people going to the front of the businesses on Washington Avenue as behind.
鈥淚 just think that it鈥檒l be more of good stuff and more people will come and more people will come to the fronts of the stores as well as the backs along the Creek Walk,鈥 he said.
Other concerns brought up during the meeting were what the ongoing funding of the path would look like and what level, if at all, of responsibility will business owners have in maintaining the back of their buildings.
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