Dec. 7, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. – The City of Viroqua Park and Recreation Committee met Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to finalize the strategy for replacing the beloved Eckhart Enchantment playground, known locally as Dragon Park. The committee decided to grant authority to the project’s leadership team to move forward with the dismantling and construction timeline, a crucial step toward meeting the goal of a Spring 2026 build date.
Project Evolution
Eckhart Enchantment (Dragon Park) that was originally built in 1996 through a large community labor effort, has suffered years of minimal maintenance, leading to rotting wood support posts and safety concerns. The city initially sought proposals from Leathers and Associates, the original builder, hoping to duplicate the classic wood design and utilize another community build. However, high costs and poor response times forced the city to sever ties with that company in February 2025. After much public feedback and push-back on the original designs that were mostly plastic and steel structures, the committee ultimately settled on a design from Play by Design, a firm connected to the original creators. Their proposal utilizes post consumer recycled plastic lumber to maintain the desired natural wood look. The outcome is a design and plan that accommodates public demands for safety, accessibility, and the preservation of the mature shade trees.
Project Timeline Discussion
During the December meeting the committee addressed the urgent need to establish a firm timeline for the project moving forward, but struggled with whether to close park for a spring start or push the project to fall in case all the pieces have not fallen in place by spring. The decision of whether to pursue a spring or fall build date for 2026 was complicated by vendor preference, preparation needs, and weather uncertainty.
The primary goal in approving the contract with Play by Design was expediency, particularly securing favorable pricing. Alderperson Steve Willis noted the urgency in signing the contract to avoid potential financial risks, stating that they were “locked into the 2025 pricing versus if we wait, then we might have to incur price increases.”
Willis reported that the vendor highly recommended the early May date as it is considered a “prime community build date” for their company. The vendor cautioned that scheduling a community build during the summer is difficult due to volunteer vacations and competing activities. Willis summarized the vendor’s strict approach to the May date, noting that the build would happen “rain or shine” because volunteers take time off work for the specific build week and cannot easily reschedule.
“We had talked about, would it be easier to move it back to October, but in talking with Play by Design, if we don’t sign the contract this year, fees could increase,” said Kale Proksch. “So there’s s just so many unknowns that, again, we’re hoping for a spring build or a fall build of 2026, depending on fundraising, depending on when we can tear down the old playground with either public works, or if we could get a organization that would come in and help us tear it down by donation, or if we have to pay for it.”.
City Administrator Nate Torres, however, raised concerns about locking into the early date without having confidence in site conditions, especially regarding grading and root systems around the existing trees. Torres expressed apprehension about committing too early, stating he was “really nervous about us locking to a date that I feel like is a coin flip that we can make.” He feared that if the city were not ready by May, the delay could leave the park closed for an extended period, noting that if the park were shut down in January, “we’re not touching it for we’re not actually building anything for another 10 months.”
To resolve this conflict, the leadership team asked the council to allow the team to handle the date decisions directly, rather than seeking formal approval for every change. Torres explained that the team needed this authority because continually having to come back to the committee “extends the timeline” for the project. The authority was granted to the leadership committee to set the timelines for the build and dismantle dates moving forward.
“In regards to the playground project, just wanted to bring you up to speed in regards to what we’re planning,” said Parks Director Kale Proksch. “We’re just trying to move this project quicker along so we don’t have to come each month to get your approval, and then wait and go to council approval.”
“It would just be easier to move things along if, if the committee had permission to just through park and rec, deal with tearing down the playground and taking care of that without having to come, continue to come back here, because it extends the timeline,” said committee member Kim Littel. “The faster we get that moving, the rest of the things will fall in line for people.”.
The team acknowledged that the actual demolition date remains flexible and dependent on whether the work is performed by city staff during the winter or outsourced to a community partner. Proksch noted the timing must also balance the needs of the children with the tight schedule necessary for construction.
Proksch also added that they want to give the community a chance for a “final play date” before closure.
Project Financing
The fully envisioned project carries a total budget of approximately $776,000. The plan incorporates a $75,000 optional volunteer credit by utilizing a community build effort, reducing the cost of the Play by Design contract to $664,211.
Verbal commitments from major donors and city funding allocations total $597,095. The committee is relying heavily on fundraising to cover the rest of the full project scope, which includes desired amenities such as the fence and double zipline.
The remaining fundraising goal needed from the community to cover the full expected costs of the project is currently estimated at $152,365. Fundraising co-chair Kim Littel noted that efforts would slow down during the holidays but intensify in the new year.
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