Wauwatosa's Hart Park to get new pavilion

Joining the Rotary Performance Pavilion and playground in Hart Park, a new pavilion will provide some picnic tables and shade in the area between 68th and 70th streets.

The Common Council approved an $817,000 contract for constructing the pavilion at its meeting July 1. The cost exceeds the $750,000 the city had budgeted for the project in its capital improvement plan.

In order to come up with more money, Public Works Director Bill Porter recommended pulling some funds from plans for bike paths in the park. He said those plans needed "some rethinking," specifically on how they would cross the river. Because there hasn't been any design work on the paths yet, he said they could happen in later years with different funds.

"Where the greatest need is, was sort of the issue," Parks and Forestry Superintendent Ken Walbrant said. "The bike path isn't connecting us to anything else now. Right now the bike path has sort of an undetermined goal, and there is not a lot of public pressure to extend that at this time. It is part of the park design, so at some point it will be dealt with."

Walbrant said the pavilion would be an important enhancement to the park, especially for Tosa Tonight shows.

"By design, the parents can sit in the shelter area and watch the show at the performance stage and also see their kids on the playground," Walbrant said.

Walbrant said the pavilion would include bathrooms and about six shaded picnic tables. He said construction, by Ray Stadler Construction Co. of Wauwatosa, likely will be completed next year.