By Taylor J. Hale 

Staff Writer

PLOVER – Community Development Administrator Ryan Kernosky met with Gazette staff to give his weekly update on everything Plover. Kernosky touched on a large project coming to Plover’s Lake Pacawa Park, involving amendments that could hit TIF No. 4.

TIF No. 4 amendments could see final approval

Village leaders will take official action on TIF No. 4 amendments that would help support Lake Pacawa Park master plan updates at the Sept. 18 board meeting.

The changes also call for a developer incentive payment (DIP) for Rolly Lokre Developers, the team spearheading Plover’s new 87-unit apartment complex.

“The language for the amendments is complete,” Kernosky said.

If the amendments are approved, the village could potentially see funding from the TIF as soon as 2021.

The plans will go in front of a joint-review board consisting of area jurisdiction representatives from the village, school district, county, and Mid-State Technical College on Sept. 16 at 11 a.m.

The plans will then go to a public hearing at the village plan commission meeting, held on the same day at 5:30 p.m. Village leaders will discuss the plans and take action during the village board meeting.

Funding the park project

Kernosky noted that funding for the Lake Pacawa improvements would come from three primary sources: DNR and WEDC grants, TIF No. 4 increment support, and funds raised from the community.

The fundraising campaign for the Lake Pacawa updates will be fully launched soon, according to Kernosky.  “There will be a website up for the Splash and Play area where families can donate in the near future,” he said. “We encourage families to donate to the project to offset the cost to get the project in the ground.”

Kernosky noted the possibility of a new “Donor Wall” in the park. The wall would display plaques featuring the names of families who donated a certain amount to the project. Price points for the donor wall have not been finalized.

 The total projected cost of the Lake Pacawa improvements sits around $3.5 million. Kernosky said a rough community fundraising goal is set around $1.2-1.5 million.

“This is definitely one of the largest fundraisers we’ve seen,” Kernosky explained. “But we think it’s a very attainable goal.”

Coming to Lake Pacawa 

Kernosky and his peers see the Lake Pacawa updates as a significant step in creating a new “gem” in the village.

Kernosky said, “Lake Pacawa Park is one of our only community-wide parks, and it’s horrendously underutilized. Years ago, it used to be a very popular park. But within the last 20 years, it’s fallen into disrepair.”

The updates would bring an inclusive playground, splash pad, sidewalks, and revitalized beachfront to the park.

Lake Pacawa water and beachfront treatment projects are slated to start in 2021 if plans follow suit. Plover leaders hope to utilize DNR grants for the beachfront updates.

For more information about the planned amendments, visit https://stevenspoint.wpengine.com/2019/08/28/plover-to-see-more-development-this-fall.