Council advances band shell project, gets PD update

MARSHFIELD – The future restoration of the historic band shell in the city’s Columbia Park has taken another step forward.

On March 24, the Marshfield Common Council signed off on a recommendation from the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee and Board of Public Works to hire Zettler Design Studio for professional architectural and engineering services, contingent upon Finance, Budget and Personnel Committee approval of the associated budget resolutions to cover the costs.

In a March 17 memo to council members, Parks & Recreation Director Justin Casperson said the Board of Public Works on Feb. 3 gave the Parks and Recreation department the go-ahead “to solicit Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for professional architectural and engineering services to evaluate the condition of the Columbia Park Band Shell and prepare design concepts for potential restoration and improvements. After review, Parks and Recreation recommends that the City enter into an agreement with Zettler Design Studio to provide these services.”

In addition to Zettler, the memo stated the Parks and Recreation Department also received proposals from Studio GWA and Senga Architects, and that Zettler was chosen because they had the lowest project cost among the proposals, demonstrated experience restoring historic band shells, strong specialization in historic preservation projects and a small firm would ensure direct involvement from the principal architect throughout the project.

In 2025, the City gave Donna Rozar the go-ahead to pursue fundraising efforts to support the restoration of the Columbia Park band shell. Rozar subsequently established a dedicated fund through the Marshfield Area Community Foundation to collect donations for this effort.

Rozar has pledged up to $50,000 toward a community fundraising goal of $100,000, according to Casperson’s memo.

“The floor is rotting,” Rozar told Hub City Times in January. “It needs a new floor, it needs to be painted, and the bathrooms need some updating — refreshed — I guess is the right word. The band could use new folding chairs. The scope of the project is going to be determined by how much money we’re able to raise.”

Prior to executing any contracts, donated funds must be transferred to the city to cover anticipated project costs, according to Casperson.

A budget resolution will be required to formally accept the donation and establish the appropriate project budget.

Depending on the estimated construction costs identified through the design process, competitive bidding for construction services may be required.

At this time, no city funding is anticipated for this phase of the project.

For more information, visit www.marshfield.foundation.

Also at its March 24 meeting the common council received an update on the pending renovation of Wildwood Plaza’s Buffalo Building into the relocated police department.

Police Chief Jody Geurink told aldermen his department decided to cut a shooting range and cold-weather storage facilities from the original plans. He said they’ve also moved a community meeting room addition inside the existing structure, so a build-out will not be necessary and reduces the overall cost of the project.

“We found ways that we could cut costs by repurposing furniture and equipment that we have in our current buildings whenever possible, so the only remaining addition on this project is the garage,” Guerink told aldermen.

He also said the department is seeking outside grants totaling up to $2 million.

Minneapolis-based BKV Group has been hired as project architect and Plain-based Kramer Bros. is providing construction management services.

“I would say the drawings at this point are anywhere between 25 and 30 percent complete,” Kyle Kraemer told the council. “We are getting design development drawings from BKV probably halfway through April. When the construction drawings are done in mid-July, we’ll send that out to the market, take four weeks to bid the project and everything will be per the bids of the sub-contractors.”

The project currently has a budget limit of $10 million, including $4.5 million in general construction costs.

Kraemer said he anticipates work starting right after Labor Day, with completion set for late June or early July in 2027.

The completed facility will accommodate all core police operations, including administrative functions, patrol, investigations, evidence, property, support and wellness, public interface, detention processing, and fleet operations, according to RFP documents.   

The primary project component is the adaptive reuse of the single-story, 22,603-square foot Buffalo Building, located at 2504 S. Central Ave., which was donated to the City by the previous owner, Dan O’Connell and Wildwood Real Estate, LLC.

Connected to the renovated structure would be a new 878-square foot office addition.

A major new construction component is a 12,000-square foot enclosed garage housing and supporting the department’s fleet and operational functions.

According to a 2023 review by Lake Delton-based architect ADCI of the current police department, constructed in 1981 at 110 W. First St., “it appeared that most, if not all, areas of the existing building are outgrown.”