Green Bay to Break Ground on Shipyard Phase I This Thursday
(Green Bay, WI) – The City of Green Bay invites the public and members of the press to a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of the Shipyard. The event will be held at 9:00am on Thursday, July 21st, at 100 West Mason Street in Green Bay.
Phase I will include the construction of a riverfront promenade, floating dock, fishing pier, habitat enhancement, and an accessible kayak launch. Construction of the second phase is tentatively planned to start in 2023 and will include a great lawn for concerts, festivals, and other events; a dog park; urban beach; adventure playground; and splash pad. The third and final phase will include a unique commercial plaza that will support local start-up businesses that specialize in food, beverage, retail, and recreation.
“The Shipyard promises to be a prominent destination within the upper Midwest. Once a center for rail and water transport of raw materials, the now vacated brownfield will be dramatically transformed into a destination of recreation and tourism”, said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich. “The revitalization of the Shipyard represents a unique opportunity for the City of Green Bay and our residents to breathe new life into a long overlooked but critically important area of our community.”
“The commitment to redevelop this site highlights the priorities of our neighborhoods and community,” said District 9 Alderman and On Broadway, Inc. Executive Director, Brian Johnson. “The Fox River has long been the center of industry but as cities evolve, so too do the uses of our waterways. People want to interact with the river differently than we have in the past and we’re now prioritizing the wants of our residents as we strategically develop waterfront public use for generations to come.”
The City’s initial $8.8 million investment in site preparation and Phase I amenities was made possible with the support of several grants from state and federal partners. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) awarded the City $1 million for brownfield remediation. The U.S. EPA also awarded a $500,000 grant for brownfield remediation, as well as a $563,000 grant for green infrastructure/stormwater management. The Fox River Trustee Council awarded a $304,500 grant for construction of the fishing pier and wildlife habitat enhancement.
Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony will take place near the shore of a former boat slip and where the future promenade and floating docks will be located. Attendees should enter the site from Broadway under the Mason Street Bridge. Parking is available onsite and on Broadway.
For additional information about the Shipyard project and to access downloadable conceptual images, please visit http://greenbaywi.gov/Shipyard.