Boy Scout leads way for Kaukauna bridge

By J.E. Espino
Post-Crescent staff writer

KAUKAUNA — Lack of funding has not stifled some remaining work needed to complete the Kaukauna Dog Park.

The Common Council last week gave an Eagle Scout community service project approval for the construction of a 40-foot walking bridge this spring.

This week, that proposal for a Rainbow Bridge design, brought by Nick Schommer, a Kaukauna High School sophomore, goes to St. Aloysius' Troop 104 leaders for review. It will then go to Bay-Lakes Council-Boy Scouts of America for final approval.

"It's the first thing that came up, and it sounded cool to do," Schommer said Sunday of how he chose the pet-exercise area for his Eagle Scout project. "We want to get the dog park up and going and have a lot of people go there."

Schommer hopes to secure donations and discounts from lumber yards to reduce the cost of the bridge, which would be built over a section of a retention pond in the park.

Cost estimates placed construction of the bridge and the installation of culverts at $25,000 to $30,000. Construction would have been put on hold until the funds were raised, said Recreation Director Gary Landreman.

The official opening of the park, situated in the Agricultural Park on the city's northeast side, is scheduled in mid-February. It will stay open until 11 p.m. daily and be the first in the area to operate year-round.

The next closest site, the Outagamie County Pet Exercise Area about five miles west on French Road, is closed for the winter.

In July, city officials authorized the recreation department to move forward with construction plans over two phases at the 13-acre site off Farmland Drive. In the first phase, trees were transplanted from the former Fox Valley Greyhound Park, now known as Commerce Crossing. The city created a parking area and fenced off a section of the park.

The new work will be part of Phase II.

While Schommer, 15, and Troop 104 will be doing most of the legwork, supervision of the project falls under public works and recreation department employees.

Nick's father, Scott Schommer, said the work likely will be complete by mid-summer.

"I'm really excited to have something like this around home," said the senior Schommer.