WATCH NOW: Big plans in store for Southport Park; grant to fund specifications for anticipated projects | Local News

There are big plans in store for Southport Park.

The Southport Beach Park Association, which works with the City of Kenosha, recently received an $87,000 grant through the Lake Michigan Trust to make the area a bustling park again.

The funds will be used to develop detailed engineering specifications for the storm water drainage system at the historic Southport Beach House, and to design a detailed landscape plan to mitigate watershed pollution along the coastline of the park, 7501 Second Ave.

The plans are the first phase of a Southport Park watershed regeneration project.

These improvements are intended to help address stormwater pollution run-off and erosion and restore habitat and park access.

Landscaping plans for the park’s future include a meadow park, improved walking and biking trails, upgraded signage, and expanded accessibility for the disabled, among other projects. The city is responsible for managing contracts administration for the design and engineering phase.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Lydia Spotswood, a member of the nonprofit association and city planning committee. “We view this as a stepping stone towards pursuing grant implementation in a full range of ways. … It is a necessary stepping stone.”

Such detailed plans are required to obtain funds from private foundations and federal grants, she said.

“They want to see the details of what you’re doing,” Spotswood said. “You need a high level of detail in your applications.”

Spotswood said Southport Beach House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was facing “wrecking ball” only a decade ago after it fell into disrepair.

“This city has not done a very good job in terms of preserving it. We don’t have a lot of historic buildings and this is one,” said Spotswood. “It’s not just a historic building. It’s building national confidence.”

Spotswood said she hopes the building will eventually become something similar to the famous Milwaukee complex of the Lake Front Café, which is located in the old water utility building.

“That would be great,” she said. “That is the vision we have of it. It is possible at the lower levels that we will also have an outdoor bistro open during the summer months.”

She hopes the building will become a multi-purpose destination with separate areas for parties and seminars.

“Back in the ’90s, when I was a city councilman, there was a huge move toward public-private partnerships. I’m not sure people realize that there is a lot of opportunity for that, and with the right management – when you have people who simplify confidence and have an attitude of optimism. And the hope for the betterment of society – there’s plenty of room for growth, said Spotswood.

“For too long the only way to get into this beach house was to rent it. We want to open the beach house back up to the public. The key to that is building security. The key to that is on-site operations.”

“We also want to maintain a really strong relationship between the building and the park,” said Spotswood. “A Prairie Garden is a big idea. These are starting to take off everywhere. It is the inspiration for everything that is happening now. … We want to create a ‘green wall’ between the park and industrial use in the south and southwest which is the waste treatment plant. We want a visual ‘green wall’ There so this garden can be revived.”

She said the prairie gardens are self-renewing and require less maintenance from city employees.

Other “elements” of the plan include a new children’s playground and educational boards.

“It’s going to take time and it’s going to be a transition but you’re starting somewhere,” said Spotswood.

The conceptual plan is available online at southportparkassociation.org/projects/.

Spottswood and the association were praised during Wednesday’s city council meeting by council members for their efforts.

“They set a great example for others to do similar things in different buildings and different parks,” Ald said. Daniel Brozansky. “thank you.”

ald. Rocco LaMacchia thanked them for doing “all the hard work”.