“All Are Welcome” signs to be posted at La Crosse parks

The La Crosse Parks and Rec. Department is ready to introduce a new slogan to the community: “All Are Welcome.” 

That message, along with a design combining a heart with La Crosse’s two bridges, will be displayed on signs at city parks. 

The idea was in response to other signs that said “Hate Has No Home Here,” which were briefly put up on park property before some people objected to them. 

Parks and Rec. director Jay Odegaard told the La Crosse park board Thursday night that he wanted a similar sign, which wasn’t already being used somewhere else.    

Area artist Landon Sheely, known for the “Helping Hands” mural on the downtown parking ramp on Thirds and State streets, created the design for “All Are Welcome.”

In other park business, Green Island will get more new tennis courts than originally planned, under a new proposal brought to the park board. 

The concept of building new courts near the ice arena, to replace old ones recently removed at UW-La Crosse, has been expanded to 13 outdoor courts instead of just 10.

Some pickleball courts, which had been proposed for Green Island, will be planned at Erickson Park instead.