CITY PARK SHELTER RESERVATIONS	If you want to guarantee having a park shelter on a certain date, the City now reserves the shelters for a nominal fee. It is not required that a shelter be reserved. But if you don’t make a reservation, then you take the chance of someone else occupying it before you arrive. Prairie du Chien has the following park shelters that are available to be reserved by the public. * Fort Fun Shelter on East Wells Street by the swimming pool. * O’Brien Park Shelter at 12th & Fowler Streets (no restroom on site). * Lochner Park Large Open Shelter at South Wacouta & Wells Streets. * Lochner Park Smaller Enclosed Shelter at South Wacouta & Wells Streets. * Lawler Park Rock Building on St. Feriole Island. (no food or drink allowed) * Lawler Park South Shelter (gazebo) across from the Depot on St. Feriole Island. * Lawler Park North Shelter on St. Feriole Island. * Shelter at Fisher Street & Villa Louis Road on St. Feriole Island (no restroom on site). * Jaycee Shelter at Bolvin & 5th Streets on St. Feriole Island (no restroom on site). * Lessard Park Shelter on St. Feriole Island at end of Blackhawk Avenue on the south (no electricity, no restroom on site). * Washington Street Park Shelter across from the marina. * Barn at LaRiviere Farm Park.
RESERVATION PROCEDURES	Complete the Park Shelter Reservation Form and return it to the City or contact the receptionist in the City Administrator’s office (608) 326-6406 to reserve a shelter. Residents pay a reservation fee of $25, non-residents pay $35. The fee is per shelter, per day. For example, if you reserved both shelters at Lochner Park for Saturday and Sunday, the cost would be $100 for a resident. This fee is refundable only if the reservation is cancelled at least two weeks in advance. Upon payment of the reservation fee, the shelter is considered yours for the reserved date. You will receive a receipt for this payment. The City will put up reservation signs on the shelter for you. If someone else is in the shelter when you arrive, just show them your receipt which shows you have paid to reserve it and they should leave. If they don’t, the police will move them. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance. City of Prairie du Chien governmental and employee organizations, and groups of employees, are exempt from paying this fee. The reservation fee is also waived for non-profit organizations holding a fund-raising event.
RULES REGARDING PARK SHELTERS	* Glass beverage bottles are not be permitted in any park. * Excessive use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all parks. * All parks are closed to the general public from 11 PM to 6 AM. * All waste is to be thrown away. Where receptacles for trash are not provided, all waste is to be carried away from the park by the person responsible for it.

LARIVIERE PARK - La Riviere Farm Park Brochure

This sprawling 300 acre farm was donated to the City in 1977 by Dan La Riviere who specified how it was to be used with an emphasis on the public enjoyment of the natural habitat. The park is administered separately from the City park system by a City Council appointed La Riviere Farm Park Committee.

The Farm Park offers a Boy Scout camp area, primitive group camping, a horse-camp area, and marked hiking and biking trails. In the winter, cross-country ski trails are marked, and there is a toboggan slope. The Farm Park has electricity and running water at some locations, as well as pit toilets. Toilets and many of the areas of the park are handicap accessible. Recent improvements completed at the Farm Park are the construction of a new picnic shelter with provision for tying horses at the shelter, improvements and expansion of both the equestrian and human hiking trails, and an improved visitor’s display building.

The Farm Park’s large area, varied and specialized usage creates a long list of needs. Special attention to trails, trail maintenance, and equipment and trail signs needed. Items to be added at the park include flush toilets, hydrants and heat at the nature center, well for the horse camp, and additional picnic areas. Buildings needed at this park are a garage and storage shed. The park also needs increased parking and picnic areas.

HOFFMAN HALL

This facility has an indoor pool, gymnasium, wrestling/aerobics room, 500 lockers, and a lounge area with a kitchen. There are also 4 fenced tennis courts located just west of Hoffman Hall on South Wacouta Avenue. Tennis courts will be lighted in the near future.

Hoffman Hall was opened in 1963, and was named after famed Coach William Hoffman, who coached teams in several sports over 41 years, winning nearly 70 percent of his games. It was originally constructed as part of the Campion High School campus, and was later sold to to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. They operated the campus as Martin Luther Prepatory School from 1979 to 1995. The State of Wisconsin purchased the facility in 1995, and converted it to a Juvenile Correctional Institution for non-assaultive male youthful offenders. It currently operates as a medium security correctional facility within the Division of Adult Institutions. Hoffman Hall has remained outside the prison facility during this time.

(608) 326-2985 - Hoffman Hall Informational Brochure


CLICK ABOVE TO GO TO THE DONATION WEBSITE

CHARLES WACOUTA AQUATIC PARK

Revised Wacouta Aquatic Park Pool Hours
Effective Monday August 8th through the last day Wednesday, August 24th

(Wells and Sixteenth Streets) – This community park, covering approximately two acres, is the location of the municipal outdoor swimming pool complex. The fenced in complex includes a children’s pool, plunge pool with slide, and a zero-depth swimming pool with diving hopper as well as bath house and a picnic shelter. The complex is accessible to handicapped individuals. The park offers swimming for enjoyment and organized programs. A volleyball area is also located for pleasure and tournament use. The facility is staffed by the City.

On Tuesday, July 12^th at Wacouta Aquatic Park ,the City of Prairie du Chien Park and Recreation Departments Lifeguards, with the support of the Prairie du Chien Police and Interstate EMS, practiced their emergency skills in a mock drowning. The accident victim “Buddy” was successfully rescued by Janet Steiner, Ellen Nelson, and Lee Sippola (shown in picture). Parks and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich commented that the entire staff regularly train on skills under the direction of Lifeguard Instructor Megan Pedretti and Aquatic Coordinator Suzette Cunningham and feel it’s important to continue to “practice what we preach. It’s also important to get together with other agency’s for a different perspective and how to interact if emergencies arise." Police Chief Abram and EMS Provider Dan Kusmaul felt the staff responded very efficient and thoroughly .

Director Ulrich said it has been a great year for swimming at the pool, but the bottom line is we want to have a safe environment so the kids can enjoy their time at the pool and the parents can feel comfortable sending them.

FORT FUN

A community built playground with several levels of activities for the young and old. Fort Fun offers a shelter, four sand volleyball courts and six Horseshoe pits. Fort Fun is adjacent to the Wacouta Aquatic Park.

LOCHNER PARK

(Wacouta and Wells Streets) - This 6.3-acre community park has two storage buildings, two backstops and bleachers, two handicapped accessible flush toilets, a partially open-sided picnic shelter, and a new shelter built in 1995. Large groups use this park for gatherings, picnics, fund raising events, Special Olympics programs, independent soccer and the City’s organized summer play and activity program.

O'BRIEN PARK

A neighborhood park of .9 acres in size, including some off-street parking spaces. The park contains a play apparatus, a picnic shelter, and a basketball court.

BLACKHAWK JUNCTION PARK

(Wisconsin Street and Stuart Lane) – This parcel of land, formerly known as Waterworks Park, approximately one-half city block square, is located next to the water pumping station, and owned by the City. This neighborhood park primarily serves nearby elderly and family housing complexes. The park has some playground equipment and picnic tables.

MICHIGAN AND PARK STREET PARK

This .5 acre neighborhood park property is surrounded by a chain-link fence and includes a basketball court, playground equipment, and a sand volleyball court. This park was improved in 1997.

CECIL B. SMITH MEMORIAL BALL PARK

(Taylor and Michigan Streets) – This 2-acre property is a major softball and baseball field serving the community. The park has two buildings, four dugouts, scoreboards, 10 sets of ballfield lights, two backstops, bleachers, as well as piped water to the field area, and flush toilets.

OLD ROCK SCHOOL

(Marquette Road and Campion Boulevard) – The one-acre plot includes the historic Rock School built in 1858 in the Greek Revival style, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the oldest existing example of a public school building in the area. The first floor of the two-story building has been renovated and is used for public meeting and gatherings. There is playground equipment at this site, serving as a community park. The Veterans Memorial is located at this site.

LAWLER PARK

A park located on the west side of St. Feriole Island along the Mississippi River existed as a community park before the floodplain relocation project. Lawler Park continues to have separate identity from the other recreational facilities on St. Feriole Island. This park covers approximately four acres, offering enjoyment of the river and scenic views. The park has a storage building and two large picnic pavilions, playground equipment, electric service, handicapped accessible restrooms, and a public parking area. The park has a rock wall on the river which includes a public boat ramp.

WASHINGTON STREET PARK

(Washington and Main Streets) – This neighborhood park covers approximately 3 acres, located on the mainland along the slough opposite St. Feriole Island. Residential relocation in connection with the floodplain project resulted in this open space. The location is subject to periodic flooding, but the park provides water recreation access and scenic views.

ST. FERIOLE ISLAND MARINA

A city-owned, full service, privately operated, pleasure boat marina is located on the east side of St. Feriole Island at along the slough. The Marina provides docking for approximately 100 vessels and storage facilities for watercraft, gasoline and supplies, toilets, and access to the main channel of the Mississippi River. The north end of the marina has a boat ramp open to the public. (608) 326-8032.

ST. FERIOLE PARK

This is a regional park covering most of the island of the same name located in the Mississippi River. Much of this island was developed property, including residences, located in the Mississippi River floodplain. A Corps of Engineers floodplain relocation project has resulted in approximately 240 acres of land cleared of buildings. Five picnic shelters, tables, and running water are available at St. Feriole Park and its related Lawler Park along the river.

The island’s potential for tourism abounds based on its historical significance, and its location for recreational use of the river and surrounding environment. Several distinct and separate recreation facilities exist on the island including Villa Louis, Lawler Park, a marina and bike trails.

Click here for more information on St. Feriole Island Parks

ST. FERIOLE ISLAND BALL PARK

This newly built facility features two lighted softball fields and one lighted baseball field. A large concession stand and handicap restrooms are available for games and tournaments. A shelter is available near the complex.

ROCK BUILDING

This newly constructed building is built overlooking the Mississippi River. Decorative stained glass windows adorn the building. The building will be an interpretation center for the City of Prairie du Chien.