More Improvements Coming For Abendschein Park

Some new amenities will be implemented in , 1321 E. Drexel Ave., this year in the second phase of a plan to upgrade the park.

A building housing a concession stand, bathrooms and storage space will be constructed at the baseball diamond, Zoning Administrator Pete Wagner said. Water, sewer and electric service that comes with the building will help the city better maintain the field.

In addition, two pedestrian bridges will be constructed. One on the east end of the park will connect the baseball field to a nearby trail; the other bridge will be near the soccer field on the north end that will give the park another access point.

Much of the work is expected to begin after the 2012 baseball season.

The total cost of the project is about $900,000. Funds will come from park impact fees and $247,000 in grants from the state Department of Natural Resources.

This year's work is phase two of an eight-phase comprehensive plan for the 64-acre park—named after the city's first mayor—that is to be implemented over the course of several years.

In the first phase, a skate park and two open field areas that can be used for soccer, football or other recreational activities were added. More trails and another parking lot are planned for future construction.

On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved moving forward on the second phase.

The plan and its implementation is a good example of how to execute a large project, said Alderman Dan Bukiewicz, who is also a member of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission.

"It was a very well-thought-out plan," he said. "We're in phase two and we're paying this off as we go. This is an excellent roadmap for how major projects get done in Oak Creek and how it doesn't get thrown onto the taxpayers. It's very important that this particular project continues on."