On Monday night, representatives from the Madison-based SAA Design Group and Engberg Anderson presented the proposed concept plan to the Board of Park Commissioners.  The two public information meetings were held, one on September 26th, and the other on October 3rd.  Click here to read the articles from those meetings:  Citizens Speak Out About Southport Park; and Second Southport Park Meeting Held Tonight.

The public also saw this concept plan at a meeting that was held at the Oribiletti Center on November 1st.  To read the article on this meeting, click here:  Southport Park Meeting Tonight At Oribiletti Center.

There were three concept plans reviewed, Concept Plan A, B and C.  This proposal takes the best ideas from all three, and it calls for:

• Adding trees to replace those lost in the 2011 storm;

• Drop-off area in front of the main beach house entrance;
• Wider parking lot, with a path from the parking lot to the beach;
• Lakefront terrace;
• Beach restoration, including space for a volleyball court;
• Connected multi-use paths throughout the park;
• Connecting the walkways around the beach house and allowing easier access from the beach house to the building;
• Revamping the tot lot playground;
• Play area on the north side of the park;
• Removing a jetty off the beach to allow for more swimming;
• Moving the shelter and play area closer to the parking lot;
• Vegetation and dune restoration; and
• Removing the steps in front of the west entrance of the beach house and making the building more handicapped accessible with ramps.

If you’d like to view the plan for yourself, click here:  Southport Park Concept Master Plan.

Kevin Donohue from Engberg Anderson also talked about adding amenity advantages to the ballroom, possibly adding an outdoor space.  Residents were both for and against the creation of a dog exercise park.

One concept not moving forward is any dramatic changes to the roof appearance of the building.  Though repairs will be done to the roof, residents were opposed to an extension or alteration of the roof line.

The next public information meeting will be held next Tuesday, December 4th, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Southwest Library, 7979 – 38th Avenue.  This will be the final input meeting.