Politics & Government

Historical Group will Maintain and Operate Linwood Park

Village retains ownership, but won't be maintaining or operating it.

The Village Board gave a preliminary thumbs up to relinquish the control, maintenance and operation of Linwood Park to the Caledonia Historical Society.

The issue was discussed at the Village Board meeting tonight.

The move would save taxpayers money because the Caledonia Park Commission was maintaining the property and allow the Historical Society to grow.

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John Leiber, president of the park commission, said the park doesn't generate revenue and currently costs several thousand dollars to maintain. The Village would still own the park, but the Historical Society would pay for the costs associated with taking care of the park. The Historical Society has the Village’s old town hall and an old train depot from Sturtevant.

Tom Lebak, village administrator, said the only he could see with the agreement were potential liability issues.

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"Our insurance already covers the park, it’s just the utilization of building that might be an issue, but that might be a moot point because of the relationship we have with the Historical Society," Lebak said.

The Board agreed that a formal agreement should be made so that those issues could be addressed.

Larry McCalvy, vice president of the Historical Society, said the group is working to get grants to pay for the upkeep of Linwood Park, which is located on Five Mile Road just east of West River Road.

“We have a vision of having eight to 10 buildings on this property,” McCalvy said. “We want the young people to know what life in the 1800s was like here.”

The group plans to bring a log cabin, two cabooses, and a Potawatomi lodge to the grounds.

McCalvy said the next step the group will take is going to the next Racine County board meeting.

"They have 14-acres along the Root River just to the north of that property that they want to give us in exchange for some easements along the river," McCalvy said. "Eventually, they'd like to put in a pedestrian pathway along there."

 


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