By Tim Hundt
VIROQUA, Wis. – The City of Viroqua has been struggling with what to do with the playground that most locals refer to as “Dragon Park” as it reaches the end of its life expectancy after 29 years of use. The decisions about what to do with the park are not easy. The playground is one the most loved fixtures in the community, not only because of its unique setting under a canopy of mature trees and natural materials, but also because of the way it came to be. Funding and building the original structure was a true community effort in 1996, both in terms of fundraising and the numerous volunteers that provided the labor in a week long build. The structure holds a sense of community like few other local landmarks.
How we got here
Located inside the city’s Eckhart Park, the playgrounds official name is Eckhart Enchantment, but the large green dragon silhouette in the side caused most people to simply call it Dragon Park.
A couple of generations of kids have now been enchanted by the popular family play site that has kept them busy for hours exploring the twists and turns under a beautiful canopy of mature trees. But that structure is slated to be removed and replaced, with what city leadership hopes is a better and safer play area.
Playground Redevelopment Summary
The existing community playground, constructed in 1996, is now 29 years old, exceeding its original 20-year lifespan by nearly a decade. Although a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was approved in 2019 for improvements spanning 2020–2024, a professional assessment by Leathers in 2022 identified extensive safety and structural concerns. Their report recommended upgrades totaling $75,000–$150,000. However, even with major renovations, the projected life extension was only 8–10 years. Since then, the condition of the playground has continued to deteriorate.
Key Findings from the 2022 Leathers Assessment
- Structural Failures: Rotted posts, failed joists, uneven decking, leaning towers, and broken support brackets.
- Non-Compliance: Many elements no longer meet ADA or current safety standards, including the fire pole, suspension bridge, climbers, and surfacing.
- Obsolete Equipment: Core components such as the zip line and chain climbers are no longer manufactured or supported.
- Maintenance Challenges: The playground’s interconnected design makes routine maintenance difficult.
Community Engagement & Priorities
In 2024, the city conducted a comprehensive engagement process including public surveys and meetings with school groups. Community feedback emphasized the need for a modern, inclusive, and accessible play environment.
Top Features Identified by Children:
- Zip line
- Slides
- Climbing structures
- Swings
Vendor Selection Process
After encountering cost, communication, and logistical challenges with Leathers in 2024, the City found it unfeasible to complete the project using Leathers as a designer. In January 2025, a new RFP was issued to five playground companies, and two finalists were selected based on how well their proposals aligned with community priorities. Key Selection Criteria included:
- ADA Accessibility & Inclusive Design
- Tot Lot and Central Seating
- Low-Maintenance Materials
- Zip Line & “Floor is Lava” Climbing Concept
Through this process the city selected Lee Recreation of Cambridge, Wisconsin to develop and build a new structure for them.
Public Input & Design Considerations
Ongoing public input has helped shape the vision for the new playground, which aims to blend modern features with beloved legacy elements:
- Preserve Iconic Features: Efforts are underway to incorporate or honor community favorites like the dragon, and design elements with a farm feel or spaceship theme.
- Safety & Comfort: Plans include safety fencing, shade structures, and use of the existing tree canopy for natural shade.
City and Committee Conclusion
Given the playground’s age, structural deficiencies, non-compliance with current standards, and limited capacity for maintenance, a full replacement is the most responsible, sustainable, and widely supported path forward.
Previous Public Input/Information
Tuesday, June 3rd: the Parks and Recreation Committee reviewed two different draft plans of the project. Please see links below to review. These plans are no longer current.
Tuesday, July 15th: the Parks and Recreation Committee hosted a public input session to solicit feedback from members of the community. The meeting included a presentation from Parks and Recreation Director, Kale Proksch. The presentation shared the facts regarding the project process and outlined the current design draft for the new playground. The meeting was very well attended with over 60 members of the public attending either in-person or virtually.
About 19 people spoke during the public comment session, including both in-person and online participants. The speakers ranged from local residents to business owners, parents, and community members who shared their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions about the proposed playground design.
Most of the people who spoke were asking for a pause in the process to reassess and see if there was way to get a new park that is closer to the existing park, a wood structure of some kind, and without losing any of the mature trees that canopy the current park. It is unclear how many of those mature trees would be removed to accommodate a completely new, from the ground up structure. One the trees is dead now and will be removed and beyond that, anywhere from one to three more could have to be taken out, depending on how the new structure is placed and how much the roots are disturbed during the building process.
A number of speakers encouraged the committee and leadership team to enlist the talents and resources in the community.
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