Several new amenities in works for Lonsdale, but cost worries some

A new nine-hole disc-golf course, a new library and maybe even permanent pickleball courts are all being discussed by Lonsdale city officials. The projects are expected to be complete as early as this summer.

However, preliminary cost estimates already have at least a few members of the Lonsdale City Council worried about the pickleball. Still, councilors voted to move forward with getting a more concrete quote.

Before getting into the slightly controversial pickleball courts, several other purchases were made and discussed, the largest of which was the former Northfield Hospital + Clinics Lonsdale Clinic. On Leap Day, the Lonsdale City Council approved the purchase of the building from the city of Northfield for nearly $2 million. They anticipate renovations to cost around another $1 million.

The council also pushed an nine-hole disc-golf course forward for Kalina Park, which is located in the southeast part of town. Discussion by the council indicate 112 feet of boardwalk would be added to navigate the course, but that’s not the only plan that changed.

After a community meeting about the new course, an additional $5,000 was budgeted for nets to be added around at least one hole to prevent discs from flying toward houses, but that’s not all.

“Improvements in the layout: I think a big one is we really pushed the course away from the houses,” Public Works Director Joe Dornfeld said.

City Planner Cory Hinz-Ibarra said the city is still under its $42,000 budget for the project. But the same might not be true of the pickleball courts.

In a pickle

Last summer, Lonsdale residents may recall four temporary pickleball courts that were set up at the ice rink in Trcka Park. City Administrator Joel Erickson noted the amount that people used the courts exceeded the city’s expectations.

“They were used, I think, more than what most people thought they were going to be used, which necessitated a need for permanent pickleball courts,” he said.

After some analysis by the park board, it was determined that Jaycee Park would be the best place for the courts. However, preliminary cost estimates for the project sit around $300,000.

City Councilor Cindy Furrer said she wasn’t so sure once she saw the estimate.

“There isn’t any way we can’t share the hockey rink with the pickleball people?” she began. “This is a lot of money to spend. … I really have heartburn with spending this money when we could use that. I just have a hard time with that.”

Councilor Brian Wermerskirchen also had his doubts.

“A couple things just out at me as I read through this,” Wermerskirchen said. “You know, one, it could be more than $300,000. We just spent $2 million on a building. We’re anticipating spending $1 million to renovate. … I’m not saying down the road this can’t be a thing in my mind. But it seems like the temporary courts are working. I’d like to see it play out a little bit more.”

Mayor Tim Rud argued they should get an official price from an engineering firm first.

“If you look at this history of all our parks, every one of them, how much of that work has been donated or volunteered?” he said. “Way more than the cost of construction. I mean, you’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars in all these parks. … I would guarantee pickleball here will be used much more than the ballparks, than the disc golf, than all the other amenities, probably combined.”

Ultimately, all but Wermerskirchen voted to get quotes from the engineering firm.