The Village is taking the first steps toward expanding Pleasant Prairie Park, located at Bain Station Road and 104th Avenue. In June, David Gentz approached Village staff about the Village's interest in purchasing three family-owned parcels abutting Pleasant Prairie Park's west end. The land is east of 108th Avenue and north of 84th Street.
The land acquisition supports the Pleasant Prairie Park expansion outlined in the 2013 Park and Open Space Plan. The property is mostly undeveloped with one single-family home. Gentz supplied a letter to the Village asking $425,000 for three tax parcels, 91-4-122-074-0390, 91-4-122-074-0395, and 91-122-074-0400. The combined size of the three properties totals approximately 4.4-acres.
The Village Board, on Monday, October 5, approved the land purchase after receiving favorable recommendations from Village staff. Funds for the investment created an unexpected expense that was not included in the Village budget for 2020. The Village added the parkland's purchase to the General Obligation Resolution, approved earlier in the meeting, to accommodate the acquisition and plans to use Park Impact Fee reserves for future park improvements.
Pleasant Prairie Park is a 22-acre community park. With the new property purchase, the park will expand to 26.4-acres and connect to 104th Avenue. The site offers a youth soccer field, restrooms, two playground areas, open green space for passive recreational activities, and two areas to park. The expansion's proposed amenities include additional parking, a dog park, and a disc golf course.