Funds OK'ed for Waunakee farm park
The Friends of Schumacher Farm Park are raising funds to refurbish the red barn to house offices, a place to house artifacts and a community space. The $725,000 capital campaign also includes funds to build a Farm Machinery Museum.
Citing Schumacher Farm Park as a tourist destination, the Waunakee Village Board Monday agreed to budget $35,000 over the next three years for the Town of Westport facility.
The Friends of Schumacher Farm launched a capital campaign just over a year ago to finish the red barn as the Center for Rural History and build a Farm Machinery Museum at the Dane County Park.
Rosa Ropers, president of the Friends of Schumacher Farm, explained that the park is unique. Just three families have owned the farm – Dr. Wheeler, Henry Schumacher and finally, his daughter, Marcella Schumacher Pendall, who left her family farm to Dane County Parks.
“I tell you this because this is a historical part of Waunakee,” Ropers said.
Equipment used by Henry Schumacher over 100 years ago is still used at the park, where an heirloom garden, hen house and orchards to help demonstrate farm life from the 1920s and 1930s can be found.
Ropers said the park is a place to take out-of-town visitors in Waunakee, and once the Center for Rural History is complete, it will offer a gathering space for school groups.
“It will create a better historical site for people to come to and linger and maybe visit neighboring businesses,” Ropers added.
So far, the Friends group has raised $462,000 toward its $725,000 capital campaign goal. Dane County budgeted $200,000 for the project several years ago. This year, it budgeted another $200,000 for site work that was not anticipated in the capital campaign fund.
Trustees all agreed that some funds should be allocated to the park.
“We need to be cognizant of our tax dollars – it is in the town of Westport,” said Village President Chris Zellner. “However, I do see this as a gateway to Waunakee.”
Zellner added that the park has an educational component as well. He said he could see supporting the project with donations budgeted over a few years.
The Friends group had requested an amount of $40,000. Westport has pledged $30,000 over three years.
Friends member Jim Ableidinger said the group arrived at the figure when considering Waunakee’s larger tax base.
Trustee Gary Herzberg said it provides the community with a place to volunteer and become involved. Volunteers help care for the laying hens in the summer months and work in the heirloom garden and many events and workshops.
Village Administrator Todd Schmidt noted that the funds could come from the village;s economic development and creative economy budget.
“I see the farm project as a component of economic development,” Schmidt said.
That $85,000 annual budget could be tapped, along with the tourism fund collected from the hotel tax, Schmidt added.
Trustee Susan Springman asked why Dane County is not funding the project. Ropers said the county parks department has helped manage the facility in many ways, including restoring prairies and maintaining trails. The county relies on Friends groups for other projects at its many parks, Ropers added.
Zellner asked what the allocation for the park could take away from in the economic development budget.
Some of the upcoming economic development projects include planning for the “West End Business District,” Schmidt said, along with advertising and marketing campaigns, a summer intern, and the upcoming Imagination Celebration event.
Board members discussed how contributions could be allocated over the next three years, with perhaps less this year and more in others, when they could include it in the budget. The 2017 budget was already passed.
Zellner said he could see contributing $30,000 over the next three years.
Sam Ballweg asked if there was a precedent of giving to other charitable groups.
Village Engineer Kevin Even said the county is a public entity and cost sharing for a project is not that unusual.
Other trustees said they could see a $35,000 contribution, and voted 6-1 in favor of that amount.
Zellner cast the one dissenting vote, and explained that he was uncomfortable with the amount.