Mayor discusses Riverside Park’s “costly” new fountain

Renovations listed at $1.4 million, but price still in flux

It’s easy to focus on total dollar amounts when looking at the cost of certain building projects in the city of La Crosse.

Like at Riverside Park, where critics have pointed to the cost of a new fountain for the park.

Posted in a strategic plan on the city’s website, fountain renovation is listed at $1.4 million. The final number, however, is still in flux, says La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat, and won’t be all taxpayer-funded.

“I think a lot of the money for the fountain is going to be privately fundraised,” Kabat said. “Just like what we’ve done with the Poage Park renovations, and some of the more recent projects, there is an element of city taxpayer dollars in there but that’s leveraging other private moneys, as well.”

Kabat is more than willing to defend the fountain.

“If you’ve seen the plans, I think they are something exciting,” he said. “Between Granddad Bluff and Riverside Park, those are the two, by far and away, most popular destinations for people coming here from all over the world, and we want to put our best foot forward.”

Final work on a spending plan – including money for the Riverside renovation – is going on right now in city hall and should be done in less than two weeks.