Restroom/concession building latest in decade of projects at Turner Park
Work is underway on a combined restroom and concession stand building at McGregor’s Turner Park. It’s the final step in a decade-long plan to improve the park on the west edge of town. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten
Work is underway on a combined restroom and concession stand building at McGregor’s Turner Park. It’s the final step in a decade-long plan to improve the park on the west edge of town.
“It is exciting,” said Janet Hallberg, a McGregor city council member and chair of the Turner Park: Fitness for All Ages Committee. “I don’t want to say it’s the end of an era, but it’s the closure to our original idea. The end to our original four phases.”
It was summer 2013 when a storm with straight line winds damaged Turner Park and sparked formation of a committee to spearhead fundraising and a series of improvements. But even before that, the space was falling into disrepair, admitted Hallberg.
She grew up at the park, and fondly recalled playing there during adult softball leagues.
“This was the park I always went to, so to see it wasting away was sad,” Hallberg said.
A quarter-mile hard surface track was added first, followed by new playground equipment and a splash pad. The restroom/concession stand was originally slated to be phase three.
“The splash pad, honestly, was kind of a pipe dream, we all thought. We really wanted it, but it seemed out of reach for McGregor,” Hallberg said. “We ended up bumping that up because there was so much interest and excitement for it.”
The restroom and concession stand building will be 28-feet-by-16-feet-8-inches masonry construction. It will include a concessions area and women’s and men’s bathrooms, with two stalls in the women’s and one stall and one urinal in the men’s. Each bathroom will have baby changing stations, and a drinking fountain will be located outside.
Hallberg said this will be an upgrade from the dated bathrooms at the park now, which will be removed. It will be the first concession stand in years.
“There was a concession stand way back when,” she recalled. “I don’t think it was as big as the bathroom building is. It was a little shack. But I can remember going and getting lollipops, the little powdered ones.”
The concession stand will be equipped with electrical and water, and eventually a refrigerator and freezer. Hallberg hopes for a popcorn machine too. Groups will be welcome to use the space for youth rec, family reunions or other events. A deposit will likely be required to cover cleaning or if equipment is missing or broken.
“For youth rec, it will give them a chance, even if they just bring in pop and chips, to make some money while they have games up here,” she said.
Hallberg believes having the designated space for food and drinks will be more convenient, especially for Turner Park committee events, which over the years has included an annual Earth Day celebration as well as music in the park and a hog roast and walk/run.
“All of the Turner Park stuff we do, we have to bring tables up, so we’re taking up seating and space when we could be in there and out of the way. It’s also easier to keep an eye on stuff. You don’t have to worry about people tripping over cords or knocking stuff over. It will be a nice addition,” she said.
Hallberg hopes the building will be complete in time for the Fall Arts and Crafts Festivals the first two weekends in October.
“What a great weekend to kick it off with somebody using it,” she said.
The total cost for the restrooms and concession stand will be about $98,000, according to McGregor City Administrator Denise Schneider. The project is funded through grants and donations.
Hallberg credits the committee’s work to fundraise over the years through the aforementioned events, as well as basket auctions, the Great River Road - Road Race (GRRRR) pancake breakfast, an annual chili cook-off and apparel sales.
“I think we did darn good work for the small committee we are,” she said.
The city of McGregor has supported park improvements, and nearby Marquette was a donor to the splash pad. Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation has also been vital, awarding four grants over 11 years, including one for the playground, one for each phase of the splash pad and another recently for the restrooms/concession stand.
“They are very generous,” Hallberg said. “Without UMGC, we’d probably still be working on the playground. We definitely wouldn’t have the splash pad up yet.”
Completion of the restroom and concession stand building doesn’t mean the end of improvements at Turner Park, noted Hallberg.
“I already have ideas I’ll be starting to work on,” she said.
One dream is to add another piece of playground equipment in the space vacated by the old bathrooms. She’s also eying improvements to the ballfield. Youth rec parents and coaches have even suggested two fields, kitty corner from one another with shared outfields, which would allow the park to host tournaments.
An updated scoreboard and dugouts are on the potential to-do list as well.
“Now that we’ve got the rest of the park freshened up, it’s time for the ball diamond to get freshened up a bit. Just needs a little TLC,” Hallberg said.
As focus shifts to the next phase, she is proud of all that’s been accomplished in a decade—proud of what Turner Park has done for McGregor and surrounding community members.
“Every time I drive by, it puts a smile on my face to see kids at the splash pad, at the playground, people walking the track. It’s definitely named aptly, with Fitness for All Ages, because you see from babies in strollers to people with walkers and wheelchairs enjoying the area,” Hallberg said. “I grew up here, so it’s nice now to see other kids grow up here.”
