Planning to begin on special needs park in La Crosse

Construction to begin some time in 2017

Planning for a new park begins in La Crosse, but this is no ordinary park.

The city and county have approved funding to rebuild Trane Park to make it a unique playscape for special needs, autistic children.

Total project cost is expected to be between $1-2 million.

It will take some time and work to get done, believes city park and rec boss Steve Carlyon.

“This is kind of an unusual park in that you can’t really go to a catalog pick and choose what kind of playground equipment goes in here,” Carolyn said.

He expects construction bids will go out sometime this year for Trane park, since funding has been released by both the county and city. Construction will occur next year.

It is a very unusual concept, says Carlyon, and something that will need plenty of planning, but there will be a lot of dividends to be paid on the back end, maybe in some unexpected ways.

“This will help regenerate that neighborhood ,” Carolyn said, “by putting a nice amenity in there that kids and parents and grandmas and grandpas can walk to and enjoy.”