What's Up Dock?
An eight-slip dock has been connected to St. Feriole Island. The outside of the dock (the eight slips) is private, but the inside is for public use. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)
New dock on St. Feriole Island
Two more potential docks seeking approval
By Ted Pennekamp
The city of Prairie du Chien is in the process of upgrading its dock situation in order to offer better access for boaters, anglers, canoeists and kayakers to enjoy the Mississippi River as well as local businesses.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich said that the Doc Holidays, a group of eight boat owners, have moved their dock from the Holiday Shores Motel in McGregor to St. Feriole Island. The group previously moved the old dock at St. Feriole Island to near the Blackhawk Avenue Bridge.
“We will benefit from the newer, more attractive dock,” said Ulrich, who noted that the Doc Holidays will lease the docking area for $250 per year and will do all of the maintenance. There will be no cost to the city.
The dock has eight boat slips pointing outward toward the river. This portion will be a private dock for the Doc Holidays. The inner portion of the dock, however, will be for the general public. People can fish from the dock and boaters can pull in and tie up their boats on the inner portion.
A sign on the new dock says it will be open soon. The dock is handicapped accessible.
Customers of tour boats can also board and disembark at the new dock just as they did at the former dock.
The former St. Feriole Island dock is now near the Blackhawk Avenue Bridge. Even though it is older and less attractive than the new dock, it is hoped that it can be put to good use. Ulrich said that the city is awaiting DNR approval so that it can place the dock near the Blackhawk Avenue Bridge and connect it to the existing sidewalk that runs under the bridge. A handicapped accessible ramp and a new sidewalk will need to be constructed in order to connect the dock to the existing sidewalk.
Ulrich said that the total cost of this project is estimated at $40,000. He said that $14,000 has been given to the Parks and Recreation Department by the Prairie du Chien Tourism Council/Chamber of Commerce.
A third potential part of Prairie du Chien’s docking upgrades is a 150-foot dock that Blair Dillman has proposed to be attached to the Doc Holiday dock on St. Feriole Island. This dock would extend upstream from the Doc Holiday dock.
Dillman’s proposal has been approved by the Prairie du Chien Park Board and will come before the City Council at its May 3 meeting. Dillman has been turned down by the council in the past regarding placing a dock on St. Feriole Island.
The Doc Holiday dock and the Dillman dock, if approved, along with the Blackhawk Avenue Bridge dock, have the potential be bring more customers to Prairie du Chien businesses.
“It’s a good thing for the city,” said Ulrich, who noted that people can dock their craft and walk into Prairie du Chien for lunch or to buy food, beverages and other supplies, for example. “It should bring more people in. It’s all good for downtown.”
