OUR PLACE
Memorial Day weekend is almost here.
This coming weekend will be a big deal in Lake Geneva, as this special holiday kicks off the busy summer season, which means downtown, and the lake are going to be full of people and fun. Piers are in, the boat launch is open, and downtown is ready. The Riviera complex will be fully open, including its wonderful and great fun shops. The Gage boat tours will be in full swing. Riviera Beach will be open with lifeguards. The beach fee is $10 a person and free for children under six but those over six have to pay the ten bucks, particularly those kids from seven to twelve or so, is lousy and should be fixed but, like almost all-American cities, Lake Geneva runs on money and profits.
More importantly than welcoming summer, however, Memorial Day is the highlight of an opening summer celebration. The weekend wouldn’t be the same without the Annual Memorial Day Parade that’s conducted on behalf of all those soldiers, sailors, air force and Marines who’ve given their all so that the rest of us can have such celebrations on a regular basis. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. from the corner of Wisconsin and Broad Street and conclude at Flat Iron Park. The day is all about honoring American soldier, sailors, Marines, and the rest of our country’s great military.
The day’s events will conclude with a Memorial Day Ceremony. Take a moment on this day to appreciate and thank existing soldiers, sailors, and Marines and all the veterans who live in and around Lake. Geneva, or even come just to visit. There’s a core of honor that runs up and down the ‘spine’ of this country, and the veterans and servicemen and women of the USA are a vital solid part of that core.
Main Street to be torn up starting sometime in 2025.
The State of Wisconsin and the City of Lake Geneva have released facts about the upcoming Main Street and Highway 50 project. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) determined that Highway 50 (Main Street) needs major repair. WisDOT has divided the work into two projects. Project Number 3170-09-00/70 (Wells Street to Grand Geneva) and Project Number 3170-09-01/71 (Forest Street to Wells Street).
The work is expected to take two years and will be done in phases. Work is expected to start sometime in 2026, 2027 or 2028 with the state and city working together to get this project completed. The city will actively work with the state to lessen the impact on Main Street businesses and to mitigate traffic concerns and disruptions as much as possible both before and during construction. WisDot has offered a 75% (WisDOT)/25% (City) cost share on the project and if the city refuses the offer, they will be held accountable for 100% of the costs when they do decide to fix Main Street. The city frequently receives complaints about the pavement conditions from citizens and businesses.
Over the past three years, the city has spent over $23,000 doing spot repairs alone on four downtown blocks. The spot repairs just aren’t enough anymore, and real work needs to be done. While the construction is going on the utility commission has the opportunity and access to replace water and sewer lines that are one hundred years old and would be very costly to do on their own.
The city council approved the project on October 12, 2020, and has been moving forward since. Backing out now would be very costly. Due to required state and national codes, including ADA, the city expects to permanently lose twenty-four parking stalls along Main Street which is out of anyone’s control, as long as the city of Lake Geneva allows that to be out of its control. There has been no talk of parallel parking or adding an additional lane through Main Street.
