The refresh of Village Park leading up to its 70th anniversary in 2028 will take another step forward in 2025/2026 thanks to recent approvals from the Village Board. 

A citizen advisory committee examined options for the pavilion and recommended replacing the 1986 shelter with a modern pavilion that includes bathrooms. The Ridge at Village Park, along with a Parks Maintenance Facility, will replace the current outdated facilities. 

The Village plans to bid the work in early 2025, with construction set to begin on the maintenance facility as soon as feasible, and on The Ridge after Lions Daze in July 2025. This phase of the Village Park Master Plan aims for completion by July 1, 2026.

The Ridge

The Ridge will take advantage of the natural ridgeline to provide amazing views of the park from the new shelter. The pavilion will feature an indoor rental space of approximately 2,000 square feet, complete with a concession stand.

The outdoor area will span over 8,500 square feet, making it suitable for events of various sizes. 

A detached covered stage will provide a versatile venue for the multitude of community special events held in our park each year.

Additionally, the parking lot will be adequately sized for the facility's needs, while larger events will still utilize the park's grassy areas. 

The citizen advisory committee worked collaboratively on the design, keeping future events and community needs in mind.

Parks Maintenance Facility

The new Parks Maintenance Facility is designed to meet the essential needs of the department, offering sufficient space to maintain and store vehicles and equipment outside of the elements conveniently located near the Village’s main park operations. It will replace the 1979 facility that was designed for the community size and operations of that era.

For questions about the project or to explore donation opportunities, please reach out to Halie Dobbeck, Parks and Recreation Director, at hdobbeck@sussexwi.gov or call (262) 246-5200.