Loop the Little Lake Boardwalk Bridges in Neenah & Menasha

2019 WPRA Loop the aesthetics Park Design Awards Little Lake Boardwalk Bridges in Neenah & Menasha prepared by aesthetics Park Design Awards Entry Form Agency City of Menasha Address 100 Main St. City Menasha State WI Zip Code 54952 Agency Contact Brian Tungate Title Dir. of Parks and Recreation Park Design Awards Email [email protected] Entry Form If a consultant is submitting the award, please complete section below: Agency City of Neenah Consultant Name Patrick Skalecki Title Project Manager Address 211 Walnut Street Firm GRAEF City Neenah State WI Zip Code 54956 Email [email protected] Agency Contact Michael Kading Title Dir. of Parks and Recreation Email [email protected] Project Title Loop the Little Lake Boardwalk Bridges If a consultant is submitting the award, please complete section below: Date Completed June 23, 2018 Consultant Name Patrick Skalecki Title Project Manager Firm GRAEF$1,000,000+ Email [email protected] Project Title Loop the Little Lake Boardwalk Bridges Date Completed June 23, 2018 $1,000,000+ aestheticsinnovation Innovative Approach to Coordination and Construction Sequencing = Success Completing a bridge over a waterway has many everyday Pheifer Brothers was active in sequencing challenges. Completing two bridges concurrently, each with work by other donor contractors that a defined timeline mandating certain tasks be finished with volunteered to provide select construction, such as electrical regulatory and seasonal restrictions, is even more daunting. The installation work. Pfeifer helped work out timeliness for city design team’s approach to providing flexibility for progression provided elements such as donor boards, plaques, and of the work, and the creativity of the selected contractor, some landscape work. This cooperative effort included Pheifer Brothers Construction Co., allowed all the construction all subcontractors and suppliers, led by Pheifer Brothers milestones to be met and the grand opening to proceed without Construction, under the schedule framework provided by a hitch. GRAEF and the communities. It began with identifying when to proceed with the work. Fall Project construction started in the fall of 2017 with the and winter construction can be difficult in the north, but it was successful goal of completing bridge piling and pier construction necessary to meet regulatory permit conditions for completing during that winter. The balance of the work was done in the the in-water work prior to ice-out in the spring 2018. The spring of 2018 with the grand opening held on June 23, 2018. contractor proposed using a temporary bridge running parallel The opening saw a great deal of fanfare including attendance by to the new bridge alignments at each location. This simple and both cities’ mayors, local and state government representatives, sturdy structure allowed cranes, concrete trucks, equipment, and the at the time State of Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism, and materials to easily access the site. The parallel bridges also Stephanie Klett. minimized the amount of material temporarily placed on the riverbed. Once the piling, piers, and girders were installed, the temporary bridges were removed, and the new bridges could be used for access to complete the remaining work. In addition to sequencing requirements, the project needed to focus on coordination with the railroad. This coordination was proactively addressed and was completed early, minimizing downtime and allowing the team to schedule work within/ near the railroad right-if-way in the tightest possible window. This proactive approach reduced railroad flagging costs. aestheticsfunctionalism A Need...Realized Almost immediately after the Fox Cities Trestle Trail Bridge was challenge was solved by including a built across Little Lake Butte des Morts in 2007, whispers began pile supported boardwalk switchback about a dream to build a trail loop around the lake. As bicycle that met the railroad’s maze pedestrian crossing and pedestrian trail systems expanded over the next decade, requirements on the bridge side. On the navigation channel including additional sections that would make up portions of the side, an on-grade sloped switchback was oriented parallel Loop the Little Lake Trail, those whispers became shouts. The to the right-of-way line and lengthened to provide enough connectivity of the urban communities of Neenah, Menasha, runout length to gain the needed elevation. The on-grade and Fox Crossing grew from a wish to a need. This need was sloped switchback was also located to avoid existing trees and identified to serve residents of all ages, commuters and leisure potential wetland areas. users, able-bodied folks, and those with physical challenges. The trail, and the bridges in particular, needed to accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, strollers, roller-bladers, skateboarders, fishermen, bird watchers, kayakers, commuters, and those just out to view the sunset. The 14-ft wide bridge conveniently provides fishing access while allowing users to pass. The railing type and height provides an open viewing corridor and is also an appropriate accessible height for fishing. Physically challenged individuals can see through or over the railing with ease. The mid-span bumpouts provide a rest area for those that need it with benches and clearances to allow wheel chairs to pass. ADA accessible picnic tables just off the main bridge approach path are also provided at both bridges. The approaches to both bridges have gradual slopes at 4.5% that allow easy maneuvering for wheelchairs and walkers. The approaches to the Neenah bridge added complexity to the overall project. The approaches had to tie into the Arrowhead Park trail on one side and end in an occupied residential lot along River Street. The lot needed to be acquired and the City worked with the lot owner to reach an equitable purchase agreement. The acquisition allowed a small parking area with ADA accessible stalls to be added to the north approach. Similarly, the City of Menasha acquired a vacant lot on the south end of their bridge to provide nearly identical ADA parking and bridge approach features. At the Menasha bridge north side, the proximity of a railroad spur created design challenges. In addition to providing an ADA accessible, railroad-required ‘Maze’ crossing, the trail also needed to gain approximately 6-feet of elevation between the railroad right-of-way line and the Menasha navigation channel dike within a width of approximately 40 feet .This aesthetics Low Impact with a Nod to the Past A main goal of the bridge projects was to provide public to allow easy viewing or fishing over the accessibility to the waterfront and waterways, while providing a top rail. Both structures provided a center wellness amenity to the residents of the region by completing span viewing bumpout with benches and a canopy that provided the Loop the Little Lake trail. The bridges needed to be a gathering spot over the middle of the waterway while not subtle and allow for wildlife viewing, fishing, and bicycle/ impeding the bicycle/pedestrian users. In fact, the bridge itself pedestrian flow. The amenities are located on the edge of has a deck width of 14-feet between railing, vs the more typical residential areas, as well as downtown business/industrial 12-ft for 2-way multi-modal structures, to allow fishing more areas, and needs to balance those diverging uses. easily without impeding the passing pedestrians. The selected composite decking provides a durable slip resistant surface, The Fox Valley, including Neenah and Menasha, have a strong with planks installed slightly angled to improve the rideability for connection to the paper industry and manufacturing. This bicycles; but also strollers, rollerbladers, and skateboarders. translated to industrial facilities lining the abundant waterways and being infused in the fabric of even the central cores of the Cities. With the former Glatfelter Mill and Kimberly Clark Mill in Neenah and Whiting Paper and Transcontinental in Menasha, it spoke to the team that the bridges needed to maintain a link to this history. The presence of the numerous railroads, including the Trestle Trail Multi-Modal Bridge on an old railroad trestle and part of the Loop, suggested a bridge with similar characteristics. The bridges aesthetics connected to the industrial uses of the area in various ways. Pipe piling was used for the pier supports to mimic other structures in the areas. The team used steel girders with weathering steel to provide that strong but seasoned look of many other buildings in the vicinity. The abutments and piers incorporated a stained form liner finish that resulted in a natural stone appearance. The railings used a combination of timber posts with aluminum tubing rails and stainless steel cabling. The cabling provided the protection needed while minimizing the obstructions to view. The railings also were held to a 42-inch height to the top rail aestheticscommunity benefits Working Together = Win! When neighboring communities combine their efforts and enthu- million total) for both the Neenah and Me- siasm to create an outdoor facility that encourages fitness and nasha bridges. The balance of approximately an appreciation of nature, everyone is a winner! $650,000 was shared by the two communities. The Loop the Little Lake Boardwalk Bridges were made pos- Organizations like the Dairyland Walkers have rated the 10K sible due to the unique blend of public participation across and 6K walking routes as 1A trails. They speak favorably about two neighboring communities, and the cooperation of each the spectacular views afforded walkers who traverse a short communities’ elected representatives. From the very first day stretch in downtown Neenah followed by a trek on the trail and the idea was developed in 2012, both Neenah and Menasha Loop the Lilttle Lake Bridges. residents and businesses were engaged. It all began with an announcement to ‘Navigate Neenah’ by Amy Barker of Future Also, events like the Loop the Lake Earth Day Hike encourage Neenah and Eileen McCoy, Former Neenah Director of Parks community residents to participate in a family-focused Earth and Recreation.

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