History of Green Bay's Parks

Keuler Place

This small area at the southeast corner of East Mason and South Baird Streets is at the site formerly occupied by Biebel's Grocery Store, according to a newspaper story, and the land was purchased by the city in 1972 for the Mason Street widening project. 1

After the street had been rebuilt, there was sentiment favoring selling off the remnant parcel either for another business or for residential use, but the widening project had made that infeasible. At a Plan Commission meeting in 1976, Mr. Paruleski said this site is well located for business except that it's access is very poor. He said its size is small, and it would be a noisy location for residents and if a business were to locate here, they would probably be requesting medians [sic] in the the median just constructed. As an alternative, Mr. Preston explained the open space proposal from the Park Department which proposed 12 trees, lawn, etc., at a cost of $510. In the end, the Commission approved retaining this property as open space. 2

The ACMEE 4-H club took on this open space as a project, cleaning up the lot and providing basic landscaping. 3 In 1980, at the request of John Finco of Acme [sic] 4-H Club, the Board of Public Works approved naming the parcel the Arthur C. Keuhler [sic] Rest Area. (The phrase rest area was used because the property was not technically park land but would remain as City right-of-way.) 4 Art Keuler had been active with the [4-H] Club and other youth and conservation programs. He was Assistant Principal at Washington Junior High before his death in 1974. 5

In 1981, responding to complaints regarding the upkeep of the property, the Board of Public Works approved a suggestion to transfer responsibility for the property on the S.E. corner of E. Mason & Baird Street to the Park Department. 6 However, this change didn't take place until 1984 7 after which the Park Committee formalized the name as Arthur C. Keuler Place 8 and the department provided appropriate signage. 9


Notes

1 Ellen Tufts, Week honors 4-H clubs, Green Bay News-Chronicle, Thursday, October 11, 1979, page A-4; see also minutes of Park Committee, August 14, 1984. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
2 Copy of minutes of Green Bay Plan Commission meeting of September 27, 1976. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
3 Copy of narrative report about the 4-H project, dated September 14, 1978; copy of Certificate of Excellence awarded to the Acmee 4-H Club in January, 1979. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
4 Copy of minutes of Board of Public Works meeting of July 22, 1980. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
(The spelling of Keuler was partially corrected on the original, probably from Koehler as it was spelled in the Park Committee minutes for July 11, 1984.)
5 Copy of minutes of Park Committee meeting of August 14, 1984; see also minutes from July 11, 1984. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
6 Copy of minutes of Board of Public Works meeting of February 24, 1981. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
7 Copy of letter from Alderman Anthony Theisen to Mayor and members of the Common Council dated July 2, 1984, requesting that the city property on the southeast corner of East Mason and Barid Street be a city park; handwritten notes on Theisen's letter saying, Approved by Committee 7-11-84 and Approved by Council 7-18-84; copy of minutes of Park Committee for July 11, 1984. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
8 Copy of minutes of Park Committee meeting of August 14, 1984; card of thanks from Virginia Keuler Nelson to Mr. Miller; PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place.
The card from Virginia Keuler Nelson reads, On behalf of my sons + myself, I would like to thank you and whoever else is responsible for remembering Art in the naming of the Arthur C. Keuler Place. We all feel very proud because of this dedication.
9 Undated note from Mrs. John Finco providing suggested text for a sign recognizing the contribution of the A.C.M.E.E. 4-H Club in establishing the park. PRF file Park Areas: Keuler Place. Undated sketch for layout of a sign with background of 4-leaf clover in silver and black letters reading Planned and Developed by the A.C.M.E.E. 4-H Club. PRF file Arthur C. Keuler Place.

Only annotated statements have been verified. Any other historical statements are unverified and based on personal knowledge or informal notes kept by the Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department.
Last update: April, 2012.
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