Sharon Roznik|Fond du Lac Reporter
FOND DU LAC - In discussions over thefuture of Lakeside Park, the former Saputo Cheese factoryhas been brought up many times.
It's prime location on East Scott Street, at the entrance to the Lake Winnebago-adjacent park, makes it an ideal spot for future development as part of the park's footprint.
The city purchased the property almostthree years agoto prevent it from becoming empty blight, said City Manager Joe Moore. In June2018 theSaputo facility closed its doors, eliminating 126 jobs, andoperations were moved to a newly-built blue cheese factory in Almena in western Wisconsin.
Demolition of the factory is currently underway at the 5.64-acre site the city paid $275,000 for in November 2018 aftercity council,in a unanimous vote, approved a resolution authorizingan agreement with Harry Davis LLC and use of public site fees for it's acquisition as an addition to Lakeside Park.
Through a partnership with Harry Davis, the city obtained the property, while the company took possession of the dairy equipment inside the factory.
The parcel could have multiple uses, but the purchase was centered around adding it to the park. At the time, Community DevelopmentDirector Dyann Bensonpointed out the Lakeside Park Exploratory Committee's focus of "trying to enhance the park and make it a feature that would be more exposed to the community."
The Saputo property would do just that byproviding agreater link between the park and the city's downtown Main Street district.
Moore said except forcomplications associated with the pandemic, which hindered progress,the demolition is going as planned and thecontractor will clear the site entirely and plant grass.That work will be done sometime next year.
"The next steps include the pursuit of development opportunities north of Johnson Streetwhich include that area," Moore said."There’s a study in the pipeline to find out what’s possible."
Nothing can actually be done withsite other than making plans for it — including possibly selling it — until it is added to the city's list of community improvement projects.
Debates over how to improve Lakeside Park have been ongoing for severalyears. Mostrecently, the idea of constructinga modern, two-story multipurpose building along the park's lakeshore near the lighthouse drew both powerful support and opposition.
The contentious plan was first approved by city council,then abruptlycanceled this spring after local elections brought new council members with differing views on board.
Several times during talks the Saputo property was brought up as an alternative location for what could housethe building —with a bistro-style restaurant inside—but supporters of the proposedbuilding didn'twant to lose the lakefront view or access to the boat docks.
In November 2020 Johnson Consulting — the firm hired to complete afeasibility study on the Lakeside Park development projects—recommended to city council the Saputo space as a location for an amphitheater because it would allow for more parking and easiernavigationfor a large crowd.
The downside to that idea,according toan Alternative Master Plan Management Team, would be the site's proximity to surrounding neighborhoods and the fact an amphitheater would prevent other development on the site.
City Council President Kay Miller says given the size and location of the property, there are many possibilities for its use.
"It will be interesting to see through the public process and the consultants work what ideas come about for that location." Miller said."This isincluded in our comprehensive plan for 2022 which is the North Main Street Project, from Johnson Street to Scott Street."
Jane Puddy Ricchio, a member of the Friends of Lakeside Park group, said the parcel provides "a huge opportunity" to the community if it gets properly developed.
"I've been touting this idea for monthsand envisiona welcome center and entertainment complex that will serve all of us and entice visitors to come here from all over the state," she said.
At the time of the Saputo purchase, council member Ben Giles had commented that even if the city used the property as a green space, it would be valuable andattract young people to the park.
A newly released 2020-24 recreational plan for Fond du Lac calls for addressing the continueddemand for public park and recreation facilities, including the creation ofsufficient undeveloped/unstructured open spaces.
Click here to see the 2020-24 Fond du Lac Recreation Plan
The plan's recommendations for Lakeside Park include expanding the purpose of the park to more of aregional attraction by leveraging public and commercial development, along with the city acquiring additional, nearby properties when theybecome available.
It also suggests developing the former Tack Oil property, which was added to the park several years ago, but has not yet been fully utilized.
"Given the location of this property along Harbor View Drive near a popular boat launch, it offers an opportunity for additional boat launch parking, which is needed in that area," the plan states.
Moore said some type of mixed use would be optimal for the Saputo site but it will take some time to put any wheels in motion.
"We've already achieved our primary goal, that of preventing long term empty-building blight," he said. "When it comes to development opportunities we’re taking the approach of quality over speed."
Contact Sharon Roznik at 920-907-7936 or sroznik@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook atfacebook.com/reporterroz/
RELATED:Two Fond du Lac Circuit Court judges announce plans to step down from bench
