Lake Geneva to develop outdoor recreation plan
Lake Geneva officials are considering working with city planning firm Vandewalle & Associates to develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, which will propose amenities to integrate the city’s park system with the lakefront area.
Lake Geneva officials plan to develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, which would include amenities and programs for the city's parks and lakefront area.
Lake Geneva officials are seeking to hire a company to help develop a plan for the city's park and lakefront areas.
Members of the Lake Geneva City Council approved on Jan. 26 to obtain request for proposals to develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan by a 7-1 vote, with Alderwoman Linda Frame voting "no."
City Council Piers, Harbors and Lakefront Committee and Board of Park Commission members recommended that city officials hire a company to develop the plan during a joint meeting on Jan. 20.
The comprehensive outdoor recreation plan is set to include proposed amenities and programs for the city's parks and lakefront area.
City officials first proposed developing the plan in June 2025.
The plan is set to cost between $60,000 and $85,000 to complete, with funding included in the city's 2026 budget.
Frame said she is against hiring a company to develop the plan when the project could be completed by the parks director and harbormaster.
"We already have these people on staff, and we pay them very well and now we want to hire a company to bring in consultants to do these things when we have people already here to do them," Frame said. Parks Director David Winger said he and Harbormaster Erick Nicia would not have time to work on the plan while performing the responsibilities of their jobs.
"When looking at a comprehensive plan and the breath of what we're trying to accomplish, this is beyond the capabilities of what Erick and I have," he said. Winger also said by hiring a company to develop the plan, city officials would be more likely to obtain grants for future park and lakefront projects.
"To be eligible for grants, you have to have a third party verification to go through and do that work," Winger said.
Alderwoman Mary Jo Fesenmaier said most communities hire an outside company when developing a recreation plan.
"It's not something typically done in-house," Fesenmaier said. "It's better if it's done outside, and the trick is to not put it on the shelf."
Alderwoman Cindy Yager said part of the reason for combining the parks and lakefront area in the same plan is because several of the city parks are located near the lakefront and they share some of the same amenities.
"By combining parks and the lakefront, it just became a natural marriage because the parks touch the lakefront," Yager said.
Companies that are interested in helping the city develop the plan must submit a proposal by noon, March 5.
City Council members are set to vote on a proposal during their March 23 meeting.
The comprehensive outdoor recreation plan is expected to take about a year to complete.
