There has been 3 or 4 stories printed in the Antigo Journal in recent weeks about the the new playground being built at the corner of Field St. and Sixth Ave. The park, according to the Journal, is being funded only by volunteers, and the land is/was city-owned. The project is being worked on and volunteers are needed. You can see the recent Journal articles about the park here:
Tools Still Needed for Playground (4/18/08)
Cheers for the Crew Building Playground
Playground Project Needs Volunteers (4/24/08)
We would like to hear your opinions & comments about the project.
Above photos taken 04/30/2008
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Tags: antigo playground being built, antigo wi new park, Antigo wi playground, antigo wi volunteers for park
DF2Y,
I agree that the playgound buzz isn’t new anymore, but it was packed up today when I brought my kids!
Playground is just more make-up on the corpse that is Antigo.
I think the park was a great idea. I thank everyone that helped build it. In Gladstone, MI they have a park like the one in Antigo. Also built with donations and volunteers. They call their park Kids Kingdom. It was built over fifteen years ago and the kids of that community still use it today. I loved playing there as a child and now I’m happy my kids have something to do in their own hometown. My son loves playing there already. My last trip to the park, there were teens hanging out w/ their skateboards, one of the ladies told them not to bring their skateboads into the area because of the littler kids, and they didn’t. Problem solved.
There’s always at least one car at the playground when I drive by everyday on my way to work. Sure, the new buzz has warn off a bit but it’s always full of activity on the weekends.
Hmmm, looks like the playground project is almost completely funded…without the use of taxpayer money. The debt is under $1000. Will all those loons and kooks that complained now admit their folly? Will MORSE ask about the progress in the next council meeting…wait, he stopped that a few months ago when he saw the debt being paid off so quickly. Will MORSE, EDER, or KAPUSTA show up to help at the fund raising luncheon? I doubt it.
ya well who is responsible for the upkeep? the tax payers i believe!
Again, a foolish argument. According to that logic, nothing new should be built in antigo, because the tax payer must be responsible for upkeep. That is the recipe status quo. Antigo deserves better.
antigo-Having attended the picnic at the playground myself, I think you missed the whole point of the project. This is a blighted area which owners left blighted and an eyesore and the surrounding neighbors and children got to look at on a regular basis. Now it has a playground where all kids of every economic status can gather and play, free of cost, and that is what I saw on Saturday. Families coming out and talking about how much of an improvement this was and looking at the plans for the future of the area and saying “oh that will be so great to see rather than looking at all the old cans and buildings”. Those in attendance agreed that the cost to build a playground is the large monetary contribution. I have to agree with “voice of reason” on this one, you are barking up the wrong tree if you think we should have nothing new because of the cost of maintenance. Maintenance is an investment in your asset and makes it keep its value. If I follow your thought, I would never own a home because I have to maintain it and yet that is the dream of every American, home ownership in a nice neighborhood with good schools. That is Antigo as long we the owners of it keep it in good shape. Don’t build any new roads….the cost to maintain them is horrendous!!!
i never said we should never have anything new, don’t put words into my mouth. the point im trying to make is that the city has enough to maintain around the city but hey lets keep adding new stuff. sooner or later the things that have been in use for years and r in good shape will lose the attention and go to hell. i for one what antigo to get new things, this town needs it, but a new playground wasnt one of the things we needed. now the talk is to add a pavillion and bathrooms to the playground area, who will fund this i for one think that this money needs to spent on things that the kids can do year round and not just in the summer.
Summer, Spring, and Fall the playground can be used. And the city got a new playground without spending any money. I invite anyone, if you have a pet project, get people involved and raise the money. I am sure the city will get behind you. Former Mayor Matousek and his wife wanted to improve a blighted area, bring people together and build something for the children of this city. It worked. So, instead of tearing down an idea that citizens came up with and made reality, come up with your own ideas.
y is it that u always want others to come up with ideas but have never come up with your own. i have not seen much good of this playground yet, but im sure there r some good things about it. maybe the former mayor and his wife should think of the citizens on the other side of town who have kids and very few parks to utilize in their area. the last thing that side of town needed was a new park. and there r just as many against the park as for the park. this is not a pi**ing contest, we r all allowed to voice our opinion, even if u dont agree with it. u for one have always been a fire starter so im sure u will continue to do that.
Just to clarify for you “antigo”, there were those who wanted to locate the new playground in some of the other blighted areas on the other side of Antigo (and I am assuming you mean west of Hwy 45 so correct me if I am incorrect) but there are none that are not already being helped. Putting another park on that side, where you already have skateparks, ballfields, football stadiums and the school. The bathrooms are being funded through a large donor and they are working on a pavillon to house events and to utilize for ice skating in the winter. Then there will be greenspace for playing of ball and frisbee like always.
And, forgive me for putting words in your mouth but that was what I summarized from your comment. You are correct, if we build it we must maintain it and I surely don’t want anything not being taken care that already exists so I am supporting the bandstand being rebuilt. I always pick up garbage and such when I visit the parks as well to help maintain them, but you are correct, I don’t mow them or trim their trees. I will be in the minority from what the elected officials tell me and probably those here, but I would prefer to have my taxes increase a reasonable sum and be able to afford to improve our city then to have every go to hell because I wanted my taxes kept low. Maybe it is a cake and eat it thing.
Antigo, yes, I am a ‘firestarter’ as you call it. I will challenge opinions that are posted here. Isn’t that the reason for this blog? The reason I ask for ideas is because it is foolish to tear down the ideas out there without providing an alternative. If i see the city doing something I do not agree with, rather than just tear down the idea, I will come up with an alternative. I realize that some do not like the playground and I respect their opinions. However, to make comments like yours…
‘maybe the former mayor and his wife should think of the citizens on the other side of town who have kids and very few parks to utilize in their area’
Now that is just ridiculous. Did former Mayor Matousek favor one side of town over the other? I doubt it. The original location was to be in Lake Park. With the Merit Gear expansion, a new location had to be chosen. With all of the planning that went into that project, I doubt that screwing over the other side of town was part of it. Anhywhere in the city limits is a 5 minute drive or at most, a 15 minute bike ride to the playground, so access is not a problem.
I agree that you have a right to your opinion. I also have a right to challenge it when it is made public on this blog. I happen to like the direction the city is going. I like the progress that has been made. If you disagree, then give an alternative. However, from what I have seen, most like to complain about what is happening but do not get involved in the process. To sit on the sidelines and complain does no one any good at all.
why would lake park need a new one. all they would have to do is replace some of the older playground equipment, the park is already there to utilize. but seeing that i am your new gump to gang up on and the only one who has the mind to speak my opinion. i do contribute to the community, and i utilize the things that were there when i was a child that way the city knows that some of the citizens still utilize them. but i do not think they need to keep adding things for these city workers to upkeep when the workload they have is large enough.
antigo you aren’t the only one that’s tried voice your opinion on here. i just gave up arguing with voice of reason. i still am here though laughing at him.
thats all hes good for is a good laugh.
There it is, the role of the victim. It is ok to voice an opinion but not to be challenged on the ideas. When one loses the exchange of ideas, they turn to the personal attack. Very predictable.
i have not heard u come up with any ideas. and to challenge, nothing wrong with that, but u r not always right
Nope, I am not always right. As for ideas, I really do not need to come up with ideas because I support the ones put forth. I ask those who oppose all the ideas to come up with their own. Again, to knock what is already being done is useless unless you are going to present an alternative. Specifically on the playground, you opposed it. Fine. Were you happier with the can man in the middle of a residential area? I am sure the surrounding home owners are happier. The value of their property will certainly go up which will also improve the tax base of the surrounding area.