Design of proposed Decorah sports complex one step closer to finalization

By Denise Lana,

Decorah City Council member Cody Whittle turns to consider potential design elements of the city’s proposed sports complex. (Photo by Denise Lana)

City officials met last week with project consultants from engineering firm ISG, which is overseeing Decorah’s proposed sports facility to begin finalizing details for the park. The project is due to break ground soon on a 30-acre property located near the city dog park on Old Stage Road.  

Installation of the facility will take place in multiple phases, with phase one scheduled to start in the next few months. As part of the first phase, two ballfields, four pickleball courts and two batting cages will be installed, along with a 100-stall parking lot and a portable restroom enclosure. The projected cost for the three-month design, permitting and bidding, and construction of phase one is around $2.5 million, according to Decorah City Manager Travis Goedken.

Nathan Hermer, civil engineer and project lead, as well as landscape designer Kenzie Johnson joined city council, staff and members of the Decorah Parks and Recreation Board on Jan. 14 to finalize details of the project’s first phase.

A Water Quality Initiative grant application for flood mitigation was submitted recently, and Hermer told the group he anticipated it would be finalized for funding in the next week or two. A stormwater wetland which meets state parameters must be constructed at the park as part of the grant requirements. The city has its own flood requirements as well. Hermer explained a sizable amount of fill will be required to raise the centers of the proposed ballfields 6 feet from the lot’s existing elevation in order to bring them above flood elevation.  Hermer said crews are expected to acquire as much of the fill as possible from the property itself.  

Full article available in the January 23 Decorah Leader.

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