History of Green Bay's Parks

Joannes Park

Origins

In April, 1920, Mitchell Joannes and his wife Fannie gave the city about 40 acres along the East River which eventually became Joannes Park. The gift came with five conditions to insure that the city could properly manage the park. 1

  1. The donated land would be perpetually used for park purposes.
  2. At the time of the transfer, a Park Commission has been or shall be created to accept the gift.
  3. The new park property will at all times be subject to the exclusive control of said Park Commission.
  4. [A] portion of said premises may be permanently enclosed and utilized for baseball and football grounds and athletic field, playgrounds, picnics and public assemblies, and that permissions may be granted for collecting a reasonable admittance fee.
  5. The city would take immediate steps to provide an adequate fund for the proper development and annual maintenance of not less than $3000.00 for the park.

Part of the donated land was east of the East River (and was known as East Joannes Park); this portion is now included in Sullivan Park. 2 Today's Joannes Park contains approximately 29 acres. 3

The full history of the park's origins are not as simple as this single deed would suggest. To begin with, there is conflicting evidence about the donation's date and the involvement of other members of the Joannes family. The stone monument on the park grounds near the corner of Walnut Street and Baird Street reads Joannes Park Donated Nov. 1919 by Charles, Mitchell, and Thomas Joannes 4 (referring to the brothers who ran a grocery wholesale business in the area for many years) and an early Press-Gazette article reiterated that statement. 5

There is also a history which entirely precedes the involvement of the Joannes family. During the later 1800s, a racetrack occupied the park area plus the grounds of East High School as far north as Cherry Street. 6 In addition to racing, the racetrack grounds in what is now Joannes Park served as the home field of Green Bay's Stars base ball team starting in 1868. 7 These grounds, or at least some part of them where the city's first sandlot football game was held on September 21, 1895, were known as Washington Park, now part of Joannes Park. 8 In addition, the names Hagemeister Park and Hagemeister Field were also used. 9

Park Development

Culture in the park

As the park was developed, a fine piece of statuary by Helen Farnsworth Mears, an original bronze of Pan from "The Spirit of Youth" was placed near the wading pool. The Green Bay Park Department purchased it in approximately 1927 for $900.00. They installed the fountain in the formal garden just to house the figure. The figure was removed from the park in the early 1950s because of vandalism, according to the records of the Neville Public Museum. The figure Joy Boy was given to the museum in the 1950s and remains in their collection. 10

Formal
Flower
Garden
↠

The formal garden was maintained for many years off the end of Doty Street (just north of the shelter house) through the cooperation of volunteers and the park department. A sign for the garden, with the text shown, was designed in 1974. 12 In the late 1980s, Robert Mongin took the lead in redesigning the formal garden. 13 A steel post and ballister fence, painted black, was installed around the garden in 1989. 14 In 1992, an order was placed for timber edging and sod at Joannes Perennial Garden replacing the existing steel edging and stakes 15 and organized volunteers tended the garden. 16

This garden was recognized in 1991 with an award from the Mayor's Committee for city beautification to Robert J. Mongin for Continued Beautification. Writing to the park department, Mongin said, The new fence, the plantings around the garden, and finally the new windows in the shelter, have all been the work of the landscape division, so your department really deserves a major portion of the credit in greatly improving the garden. 17

Bridging the East River

Late in 1933, the park board expressed its hope to put in a foot bridge connecting the present Joannes Park on the West side of East River with the park area on the East side of East River. Accordingly, the board asked the city council for resolutions petitioning the War Department to abandon East River as a navigable stream above the Baird Street bridge. 18 A flurry of correspondence followed with the office of 8th District Congressman James Hughes, culminating, in January of 1934, with House Resolution 7482. 19 No bridge was built at that time, 20 and the fate of the 1934 resolution is uncertain. 21

In 1978, construction finally began on the bridge as part of a plan to improve parking and walkways near the baseball stadium and the East River. 22 The public works director wrote that Lunda Construction … will start work on the East River Pedestrian Bridge around October 15, 1978. … The steel work and deck will be erected in the spring of 1979. 23 The work was completed by fall. 24

Shelter house

The shelter house was built in 1938 25 using WPA labor. An embarassing situation came to light in 1984. The plumbing inspector wrote to the park department, On May 10, 1984, the Sewer Department, along with the Inspection Department, dyed out the sanitary sewers from the shelter house … The dye flushed through the toilets in this building did show up in the storm sewer that … discharges into the East River. Once discovered, the error was quickly corrected. 26

Boating access

The park provided small boat access to the East River 26a but the parking lot improvements made in 1978 and 1979 (in conjunction with the pedestrian bridge) cut off this access. One family appealed to Mayor Halloin, Could you do something for us so we can launch a msall boat on the East River. We used to use the one back of Joannes Stadium but with all the curbs up the[re] now we can't get near it. 26b Two alderman also put forward a request that a small boat ramp be established on the East River preferably near the Sullivan Park driving range or new Joannes Park Stadium. We have received many calls from residents in the area requesting that this be built. 26c

The city considered recreating a boat launch and inquired about state funding support, but a letter from the DNR pointed out potential problems with too extensive a development: A ramp project capable of allowing motorized boats entry to this portion of the East River bring[s] to mind two key problem areas. Access to the Fox River from this area is extremely limited because of several low-to-the-water bridges and travel upstream by power boats could increase erosion problems by the wave actions created. On the other hand, the East River would make an excellent flatwater Canoe and Kayak course. Since this sport is not very popular in the Midwest it is doubtful that much effort to develop such a facility is justified. The letter suggested a far more modest response: Occasional access by canoes or small boats need only require a debris free shoreline with a gently sloping beach. 26d That limited approach was adopted by the city. At the end of 1980 the park department reported Concrete removed at Joannes Stadium/E. River. Park Board tabled request until Ald. Jacobson can show evidence of enough demand for such a facility. 26e

Tennis courts

In the 1990s, the city and school district agreed to develop a 7-court tennis complex east of East High. This plan engendered some controversy because the construction would destroy an outdoor laboratory used by FFA students and by others at East, Washington, Sullivan, and Howe Schools as well as fourteen trees on the site that are over 20 inches in diameter … including the second largest Littleleaf Linden in Wisconsin. 27 An FFA student wrote, The outdoor lab was given to East agribusiness to be used as an outdoor lab by the city over 25 years ago. It used to be a city dump but FFA students like me asked for the responsibility to clean and care for it. … The lab is not only educationally valuable, it has a history and should not be taken away. 28 The park department responded that the value of agriculture and the FFA's activities at East High School were not taken lightly but were considered along with other needs of the schools and the flood-plain status of the location. 29 In August of 1998, the park department and the schools signed a formal development agreement in which the CITY will be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the project costs up to $90,000, with the SCHOOL funding the balance. 30

Some aspects of the outdoor laboratory were recreated along the Cora Vanderperren Trail portion of the East River Greenway just north of the school.

Community policing center

After the original Joannes Pool was replaced by the new Aquatic Center (as described below), the Green Bay Police requested that the old pool house be converted into a Community Police Center. Remodeling plans were drawn up 31 and by the end of 2000 the department reported that what started as a vision of Officer Dave Wesely's in 1999 is nearing reality. 32 Landscaping the area continued for several more years. 33

Swimming Pool

Original pool

During the 1940s, the city determined that artifical swimming pools were needed to replace swimming at the polluted Bay Beach. Joannes and Fisk Parks were selected as the sites. 34 By 1948, the location for the Joannes Park Pool was chosen to be along the southern boundary of the park and directly across from Washington School (which at the time was a junior high school). The school's principal, H.M. White, protested that this location would be disruptive to the school: This space is used by the physical education classes for outdoor games and [by] the football team for practice. 35

Nevertheless, ground was broken for the pool on September 7, 1949. 36

1950 - A new swimming pool opened with Joe Kores as manager.

Aquatic center

1994 - After considering various locations as proposed by a few Council members, including a facility at Bay Beach or on Broadway, the Park Committee and Council gave approval to bond for the Joannes Family Aquatic Center. It was agreed Joannes was a central location. At its December Park Committee meeting, the Committee supported the concept of a 1,000 bather capacity facility. In January 2000, an additional $654,000 was approved to construct the 1,000 bather capacity facility rather than a smaller facility. The amount bonded was $2,554,000.

1995 - Construction began on the Joannes Family Aquatic Center.

1995 - The swimming pool closed at the end of the season to begin construction on the new aquatic center. Joannes wading pool was closed at the end of the season also.

1996 - The playground program was not held that summer due to construction.

1996 - The Joannes Family Aquatic Center opened for the first season three weeks late. Operating expenses the first year were approximately $125,000 while revenues were approximately $173,000, which met and exceeded expectations.

2002 - The Park Committee authorized the Aquatic Center to remain open the week following the regular season if staff was available.

Joannes Baseball Stadium

While base ball was played in Joannes Park before the park existed (as noted in the section on park origins), the baseball stadium dates to 1929. In 1941, there was an effort to upgrade facilities for baseball and the park board sought to move baseball to another location. That August, the board adopted a resolution reading, in part,

1. … baseball is a national game and a sport of permanent interest
4. … the present baseball field in Joannes Park is entirely inadequate
5. … the present location of the baseball field is temporary and has always been considered as temporary since its original construction in 1929.
6. … the location is undesirable for a baseball field because
(a) it is decidedly detrimental to the beauty of Joannes Park …
(c) it cuts off the view of the East River and Oak Grove beyond (which is a part of Joannes Park)
Resolved
(a) a new baseball park to be located on city property north of the Wisconsin Public Service Power Line between Quincy and Irwin Sts. …
(b) immediate steps be taken to recondition the present baseball park in Joannes Park to provide adequate seating and toilet facilities before the beginning of the 1942 baseball season … 37

The stadium was not moved, but improvements were made at Joannes over the next year. 38 As renovated, Joannes Baseball Stadium provided seats for 1879 total in Grandstand (1567 under roof). 39

The grandstand roof was redone in 1955 40 but the uncovered bleacher sections suffered rot and delamination from exposure to the elements. By 1965, the city's building inspector wrote that these open stands are in such a deteriorated condition due to moisture being held between the laminated wood structures underneath the stands that the cost of putting in a good sound state of repair would be prohibitive. Furthermore, These stands are used so seldom that it would be unreasonable to spend the large sum of money which would be required to put them in a safe condition. 41 Accordingly, the bleacher sections were dismantled.

In 1975, a 19-year-old Jeff Miller inquired about using the stadium for a rock concert. (The employee receiving the question seemed puzzled about the type of music, writing, Hard Rock!? Country rock. 42) This idea was apparently turned down.

Joannes Stadium has been home to a variety of teams ranging from pure amateurs to professional. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the semi-pro Blue Ribbons Athletic Club was the primary tenant of Joannes Stadium; they agreed to provide for maintenance of the stadium (rather than paying rental fees every summer). 43 In the fall of 1980, the Green Bay Baseball Club, Inc., proposed the Return of Professional Baseball. Claiming that The possibility of a franchise is quite bright, the organization proposed to negotiate a lease of Joannes Stadium for the club. They proposed to build a clubhouse, pay the water and electric bills, furnish the field maintenance in the same fashion as is now being furnished by the Blue Ribbon Athletic Club, Inc., (relieving the Blue Ribbons of the cost), and paying the city $1,000 monthly for the months of April, Many, June, July, August, and September. They promised that All present occupants, Blue Ribbons Athletic Club, Inc., the high school program and the American Legion program will be welcomed to continue their occupancy. 44 Those present occupants were less enthusiastic. Denny Ruh of the Blue Ribbons felt Green Bay will not support two baseball organizations and all the teams wondered how their schedules – there had been 209 games on 101 dates in 1980 – could be accomodated along with a pro team. Given the apparent conflicts, the park commissioners decided they would not enter into a contractual agreement with the new group. 45

This setback for professional baseball did not mean the end of improvements to the stadium. The very next year, the Blue Ribbons undertook the construction of a building at Joannes Baseball Park Stadium. 46 The successive baseball organizations continued that tradition through the years, providing a variety of physical improvements. Subsequent teams included the Green Bay Sultans, the Green Bay Billy's, and the Green Bay Bullfrogs.

In the mid-1980s another major renovation project was undertaken. An engineering evaluation of the stands late in 1985 concluded, The structure needs some repairs right now. 47 A followup provided options for repair or replacement with costs estimated to be near $200,000. 48 Funds to replace the stands were approved 49 and bids received in 1986. 50 Temporary repairs were performed in the spring of 1986 to allow the use of the stadium for this baseball season 51 with the understanding that the stands were scheduled for demolition at the end of the 1986 Season. 52 Given that repairs were estimated to cost $2000 more than replacement (and cost $3000 more each year for continuing maintenance) the city approved the contract for replacing the stands by June of 1987. 53 J. C. Basten Construction was finishing the job 54 when the city council voted to add a metal roof to the stadium, to be built by Keller Structures. 55 The two interacting contracts were completed in the fall of 1987. 56

In December of 1999, Brian Hunter sold 500 club seats to the city for $1.00. The seats, three years old at the time, had an appraised value of $44,000. 57

Joannes Sk8 Park

In 1999 a movement began to reuse the old Joannes Pool as a skateboard facility, or Sk8 Park. One advocate wrote to Green Bay's mayor pointing out that Oshkosh, Appleton, Neenah, Wausau, Sturgeon Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, and even iron Mountain have a place inwhich the skateboraders, rollerbladers, and bikers can go! Even though we are the third largest city in Wisconsin, we have no skateboard park. Doesn't that seem odd? 58 The group obtained support from community organizations, including the Green Bay Area Drug Alliance which wrote that it was pleased to endorse the local Sk8Park Project being planned by a group of youth and adults. 59 The police chief wrote that at the police department we strongly support the project and are dedicated to providing staff time to assist in the development of a successful project. 60

This early support was not tied specifically to reusing the old pool. Several locations were actively being considered 61 and in the same letter quoted above the police chief warned, The wrong location or development would be as negative as having no park at all. 62 As for the old pool, the park director wrote, Previously we were considering alternative uses of the pool basin (i.e., roller hockey, skate park) but feel it would be better if these facilities could be developed elsewhere. As for the pool basin itself, he said, Our thoughts are to simply bury it and use the area as open green space. 63 In fact, an estimate for burying the pool had been obtained in May of 1999. 64

The continued uncertainty about the Sk8 Park location had a negative impact on the morale of the park's supportersi in 2000, as eloquently expressed by Sam Thompson:

My friends and I enjoy skating around, doing tricks and just having fun. But, some businesses (especially those downtown) frown upon us. We get kicked off of their property because they fear one of us may get hurt and sue them.

Last August, we started to attend the Skatepark Committee meeting in hopes that we could somehow get a place in Green Bay where we could skate without getting hassled. I figured since Appleton, Oshkosh, Milwaukee and even Shawano have one, we should have one, too. Even though it turned out to be more work that I thought, we are making a lot of progress and I am still sticking with it.

… Without a location, we can't really move on fundraising or construction plans. Our team has gone down from about 100 people to 12. 65

Public debate about the proper location continued through the summer of 2000. The Navarino Neighborhood Ass[ociation] is having their monthly meeting tonite at 7, wrote the area's alderman on August 9. They will be discussing the use of the old Joannes pool for a skatepark. 66 At about the same time, the principal of Washington Middle School raised concerns simply because of the space needs …. Washington is a school of 1025 student that is land locked with no green space owned by the school district. We rely on Joannes Park as the only outdoor space for our needs throughout the year. She implied that the Sk8 park was merely a short-term fad, writing, Students will be here long after a skateboard park has come and gone. 67

In 2001, however, the project gained momentum. In January, the city's Finance Committee approved 1/3 of the total Joannes Skate Board Park project cost, not to exceed $100,000 68 and the full council agreed at their next meeting. 69 By March, the project was beginning fundraising in earnest, planning a skate-a-thon to raise awareness through the media and kick off a corporate fundraising campaign. 70 The state of the project was summarized in an April email to members and their parents:

For nearly two years, area youth have been meeting regularly and working very hard to get a skatepark built in the Green Bay area. The acomplishments and persistence of the group have been extraordinary. The Joannes Park location has been approved by the City, and a $100,000 contribution in matching funds has been recommended by the City Finance Committee. Most recently, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Inc., (a fundraising organization for non-profits) has agreed to assist the group in raising the estimated $200,000 needed to make the skatepark a reality. 71

While fundraising was going on, the city's landscape architects were developing conceptual plans for the new facility. 72

Notes

1 Transcript of warranty deed, Mitchell Joannes and Fannie D. Joannes, his wife, to The City of Green Bay, dated April 21, 1920. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park. The PRF notes add that the first Board of Park Commissioners was appointed in 1920.
2 See the text of the park board's 1941 resolution on the baseball stadium (below); see also the history of Sullivan Park.
3 Brown County Land Information System, http://maps.gis.co.brown.wi.us/geoprime/, retrieved July 26, 2011.
4 See photo of monument.
5 Copy of newspaper clipping, Joannes Bros. Gift of Park Awakened City, undated (but identified as 1934 in the PRF notes). The article reads, On the 17th of November in 1919 the brothers Joannes, – Mitchell, Thomas and Charles, presented to the municipality the city's largest, most valuable and by nature most beautifully situated park. The PRF notes comment that no deed can be found to substantiate this earlier date. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
6 Reproduction map of Green Bay and Fort Howard, 1893, by C. J. Pauli. This reproduction was widely distributed in the Green Bay community and has been for sale at the Neville Public Museum gift shop. No name for the park is provided on this map.
7 Timothy Brumm, Hometown Stars: Green Bay's First Baseball Team; Voyageur, Summer-Fall 2011, page 20. Brumm cites (as note 26) an article titled Base Ball, from the August 25, 1866, edition of the Green Bay Gazette.
8 Jeff Ash, Sports in Green Bay: A Timeline. Voyageur, Summer-Fall 2011, page 22. No citation is provided for this statement.
9 Jeff Ash, ibid., page 23. No citation is provided.
10 Emails from Louise Pfotenhauer, Curator of Collections, Neville Public Museum of Brown County, to the author; dated November 21, 2011, and February 20, 2012.
12 Design for sign, dated April 25, 1974. PRF file, Joannes Flower Beds.
13 Blueprint plan titled A Perennial Garden for Joannes Park, R.J. Mongin, Landscape Architect, dated May 1989. PRF file, Joannes Flower Beds.
14 Design, Joannes Park Flower Garden Fencing Detail December 1987. PRF file, Joannes Flower Beds.
15 Copy of purchase order 028706 to Green Bay Nursery, dated June 8, 1992, and received September 20, 1992. PRF file, Joannes Flower Beds.
16 1992 volunteer instructions and schedule, Bob Mongin, Coordinator. PRF file, Joannes Flower Beds.
17 Letter from Robert J. Mongin to Chet Miller, Director, Park, Recreation and Forestry Department, dated November 25, 1991. Mongin wrote, It was a most pleasant surprise, a real thrill and a distinct privilege for me to receive the Mayor's Award for Continued Beautification. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
18 Petition by Green Bay Board of Park Commissioners to Mayor and Council dated November 14, 1933. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
19 Copy of letter from Lt. Col. H.M. Trippe, District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to James Hughes, Representative from the 8th District of Wisconsin, providing the language previously adopted by Congress to abandon the West Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River; various other correspondence with Congressman Hughes; printed copy of H.R. 7482 (73rd Congress) dated January 30, 1934. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
20 Aerial photography from 1938 and 1960 show no bridge over the East River. Brown County Land Information System, http://maps.gis.co.brown.wi.us/geoprime/, retrieved August 10, 2011.
21 The PRF notes on Joannes Park record that in 1941 Emil Fisher, who sat on the Packer Board of Directors, offered to build a bridge over the East River if the Packers were allowed to practice in the park. (At the time, the Packers played at City Stadium just north of East High School at the north edge of the park, so practice in the park would be convenient.) No documentation of this report was found in the files and the PRF notes say that his offer was turned down.
22 Copy of resolution by common council vacating Joannes Park Road from Walnut Street to Kurtz Avenue, dated July 19, 1977; copy of plan (attached to resolution) showing parking lots north and south of the stadium with walkways between, as well as the new bridge; copy of confirming resolution dated September 6, 1977; copy minutes Green Bay Planning Commission meeting of June 27, 1977. Documents indicate that the park road had never been formally dedicated for road purposes, but had simply grown into a road by common use. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
23 Memo from Richard D. Hall, P.E., Director of Public Works, to Chet Miller, Director, Parks, Recreation & Forestry, dated September 26, 1978. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
24 Blueprint dated December 1980. Date of Photography: 11-18-79. This print shows the bridge, walkways, and parking lots constructed in 1979. PRF file, Joannes Park general.
25 Hand-written note on inside of folder: Joannes shelter built in 1938. PRF file, Joannes Park general.
26 Memo from Roland VanderHeiden, Plumbing and Heating Inspector, to Jim Stiefvater, Superintendent of Parks, dated May 11, 1984. A hand-written note added to the memo says, Sewer separation completed Fall 1984 by De Groot Const. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park. (It seems likely that this problem wasn't discovered previously because the East River had been so polluted that the small amount of additional sewage wasn't noticable.)
26a There is evidence for a small pier and boat landing on the East River shoreline off the southeast corner of the Stadium in the 1960 aerial photography. Brown County Land Information System, http://maps.gis.co.brown.wi.us/geoprime/, downloaded December 23, 2011.
According to PRF notes, this facility was built in 1955.
26b Hand-written letter to Mr Halloin from Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rusch and family and Mrs. Wm. Rusch, dated July 9, 1979. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
26c Copy of memo, Aldermen Bern Jacobson and Ray Berken to Mayor and Common Council dated July 6, 1979. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
26d Letter from Jeff Pagels, Community Service Specialist, DNR, to Chet Miller, Director, City of Green Bay Park & Recreation Department, dated October 29, 1979. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
26e Hand-written note (on a copy of a letter) dated December 6, 1980. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
27 Letter from Jeremy J. Kox, Vice President, Ground One Landscape Services, to Judith Crain, President, Board of Education, undated. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
28 Letter from Shelly C. LeRoy to Park and Recreation Dept., dated June 6, 1997. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
29 Copy of reply to LeRoy from Bill Landvatter, Director, Park, Recreation & Forestry Department, dated June 12, 1997. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
Current flood plain boundaries are available from Brown County Land Information System at http://maps.gis.co.brown.wi.us/geoprime/. See also the subsequent development of the Cora VanderPerren trail, a part of the East River Greenway.
30 Copy of signed agreement between the city (by Bill Landvatter, Director PR&F) and school district (by Robert A Fuhr, Executive Director, Facilities & Related Services), dated July 1, 1998; see also copy of bid summary dated August 18, 1998. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park.
31 Plans, Washington Area Community Policing Center, dated June 22, 2000. PRF file, Joannes Police Center Landscape.
32 Bruce Tilkens, article in the Police Department newsletter Arresting Developments, Volume 3, Issues 12, for December, 2000. PRF file, Joannes Police Center Landscape.
33 Copy of plan, Joannes Old Pool Landscape Concept, revised December 2000; copy of plan and plant list, Joannes Police Community Center Planting Plan, dated January 2002 and revised July 2003. PRF file, Joannes Police Center Landscape.
34 Additional details are included in the history of Fisk Park.
35 Copy of letter from H.M. White, principal, Washington Junior High School, to Board of Education, dated July 23, 1948. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park. White apparently had not been consulted and only learned of the decision from a newspaper article.
36 A short D-handle #2 shovel from the groundbreaking was donated to the city by the son of E.J. Perkins. The shovel was rediscovered during the summer of 2011 based on documents relating to the gift in PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Park. The following is painted on one side of the shovel handle:
Joannes Park Pool
Ground Broken By
E.J. Perkins, Sept. 7, 1949
The opposite side of the handle reads:
Hiram C. Fisk Park Pool
Ground Broken By
E.J. Perkins, Dec. 20, 1949
37 Copy of certified copy of resolution of Board of Park Commissioners for the City of Green Bay, adopted August 25, 1941. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
38 Statement of Expenses on Baseball Park Grandstand, Foeller, Schober, Berners, Safford & Jahn, Architects, dated December 3, 1943. This statement included work on plans and specifications and supervision of construction of grandstand and laying out and leveling of playing field – Dec. 6, 1941 to May 30, 1942. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
39 Handwritten note on seating chart, undated; City Baseball Stadium Joannes Park PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
40 Bid letter, George Withbroe Sheet Metal (by Ervin G. Withbroe) to Park Board, dated may 23, 1955. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
41 Copy of memo Sam Anderson, Sup't. of Inspections, to Vernon Krieser, Director, Park and Recreation Dept., dated April 29, 1965. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
42 Hand-written note, undated, c. 1975. (The date is speculative but supported by PRF notes and surrounding material in the file.) PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
43 This agreement was not found in the PRF files, but the statement is supported by the August 27, 1980, letter from K.L. Peck, cited below.
44 Letter from K.L. Peck, Jr., President, Green Bay Baseball Club, Inc., to Park Board, City of Green Bay, dated August 27, 1980. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
45 Copy of minutes of Board of Park Commissioners meeting as a committee of the whole on September 18, 1980. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
46 Copy of minutes of Finance Committee, meeting of March 10, 1981. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
47 Letter from Peter R. Hampton, Berners-Schober Associates, Inc., to Richard Hall, P.E., Assistant Director of Public Works, dated October 31, 1985. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
48 Copy of letter from Berners-Schober Associates, Inc., dated December 30, 1985. (This letter is included with a memo from Richard D. Hall, P.E., which was dated January 3, 1985, rather than 1986; in light of the other dates, the most parsimonious assumption is that the wrong date was typed on Hall's memo.) PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
49 Copy of minutes of Park Committee meeting of January 29, 1986, approving $135,000 for the 1986 bond issue. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
50 Summary of bids for Joannes Stadium Renovation as compiled by Berners-Schober Associates July 22, 1986. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
51 Copy of letter from Peter R. Hampton, Berners-Scchober Associates, Inc., to Mr. Dick Hall, Assistant Director of Public Works, dated July 25, 1986. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
52 Copy of memo from Jim Stiefvater, Park and Recreation Department, to Ray Kurth, Engineering Department, dated March 18, 1986, summarizing the meeting held the prior day with Berners-Schober Associates. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
53 Partial copies of minutes of Improvement & Services Committee, meetings of August 13, 1986 and August 25, 1986. For the August 13 meeting, the total package for replacement was priced at $202 thousand, compared to renovation at $204 thousand. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
54 Copy of letter from Richard D. Hall, P.E., Asst. Dir. of Public Works, to Mr. A. Pat Abramovich, J. C. Basten Construction Co. dated April 6, 1987, specifying that the completion date was extended to May 15, 1987. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
Copy of letter from John P. Harrington, Berners-Schober Associates, to Basten Construction Company, dated May 18, 1987, listing punchlist items identified during an inspection on May 14. (Having a punchlist indicates that the contract was at the point of final completion.) PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
55 Copy of memo from Clyde S. Crabb, Director of Public Works, to Paul G. Janquart, City Clerk, dated May 6, 1987. The City Council, at their meeting held May 5, 1987, awarded contract JOANNES STADIUM OVERHEAD CANOPY to the low bidder, Keller Structures, Inc., in the amount of $22,300.00. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
56 Copy of report Preconstruction Conference for Joannes Stadium Overhead Canopy. This report notes the scheduling problem of construction during the baseball season: based on scedule of events at Joannes the best time for erection of the canopy would be August 13-25. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
Copy of change order No. 10 to J. C. Basten Construction dated September 9, 1987, for roof canopoy strip footings and related excavation. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
57 Original Bill of Sale by Brian C. Hunter to The City of Green Bay transferring ownership of the 500 club seats for One Dollar and other good and valuable consideration; copy of memo from Bill Landvatter, Director, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department, dated April 19, 2000. This memo refers to donating the club seats at Joannes Baseball Stadium and mentions the $1.00 cost, indicating that the sales price was in fact $1 notwithstanding the wording of the bill of sale. PRF file, Park Areas: Joannes Baseball Stadium.
58 Copy of letter from Joe Bergner to Mayor Paul Jadin, dated February 16, 1999. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
59 Letter from Sue Todey, Green Bay Area Drug Alliance, to Bill Landvatter, Green Bay Park & Recreation Department, dated November 19, 1999. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
60 Copy of letter from James M. Lewis, Chief of Police, to Tank Neighborhood Association and Community SK8Park Project, dated December 13, 1999. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
61 Hand-written notes, undated but with a reference to 6/12/00. Under the heading of Potential Locations, the notes list the following: PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
62 Copy of letter from James M. Lewis, dated December 13, 1999, as previously cited. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
63 Copy of memo from Bill Landvatter, Director, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department, to Frank Dadam, Asst. Director, Department of Public Works, dated May 24, 1999. PRF file, Joannes Pool Reuse.
64 Letter from Thomas Gauthier, Gauthier & Sons' Construction, Inc., dated May 13, 1999. The estimated cost of removing surface concrete and placing fill was $55,000; if all concrete were to be removed, an additional $26,000. PRF file, Joannes Pool Reuse.
65 Letter from Sam Thompson to Bill Landvatter, Park, Recreation & Forestry Dept. The letter is undated but a hand-written note reads Updated him by phone on 4/17/00. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
66 Copy of email from Tony R. Theisen (alderman) to Bill Landvatter, dated August 9, 2000. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
67 Copy of letter from Amy A. Bindas, Principal, Washington Middle School, to Mr. Bill Landvatter, Director, Parks, Recreation & Forestry, dated August 15, 2000. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
68 Copy of report of Finance Committee, meeting of January 23, 2001, for city council meeting of February 6, 2001. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
69 Hand-written note on the January 23 committee report: council approved 2/6/01. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
70 Copy of email from Paul Jacob to Bill Landvatter and others dated March 29, 2001. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
71 Copy of email from Paul Jacob to Green Bay Area Sk8Park Project members dated April 3, 2001. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
72 Conceptual plans, dated June and December, 2000; see also hand-written changes to plans included with cost estimate for Joannes Police Community Center Proposed Plaza (faxed from Dan Ditscheit to Dave Swanson, police department) dated July 27, 2001. PRF file, Joannes SK8 Park: Preliminary Design (In House).
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: February, 2012.
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