PRESCOTT – Visitors and residents may notice new sign installations around Prescott soon, which the city council approved at the July 27 meeting.

City Administrator Matt Wolf provided some background, stating the city approved a new, uniform design for signs located throughout city parks and trails in 2022. A totem-style design was chosen for park identification signs; Graphic House will install one at Sunset Park for a cost of $5,818 (which also includes fabrication). The city approved a budget of $98,000 in 2026 for improvements and renovations at Sunset Park. These signs have already been installed at Jacques, Mercord Mill, Public Square and Magee parks.

The city also approved Graphic House’s cost of $8,613 for the fabrication and installation of four historical interpretive signs to be placed along the riverfront. Compiled in conjunction with the Prescott Historical Society, the signs will provide information on how railroads, the timber industry, steamboats/ferries, vehicular bridges and the rivers helped shape Prescott’s history and development. The money will come from the Riverfront Phase II project funds.

Graphic House will also install a refreshed downtown directory sign near the Prescott Courtesy Dock at a cost of $570.02. The directory helps boaters and other riverfront visitors locate businesses, restaurants, and other destinations within the downtown area. The current sign was installed in 2023.

“I thought they looked really good. I really liked the downtown directory. I thought it was really easy to read,” Alderperson Maureen Otwell said.

Bike skills course

The council also approved modifications to the Magee Park Bike Skills Course and authorized the release of Coulee River Trails funds to cover the cost.

Wolf said Coulee River Trails is proposing improvements to the existing mountain bike skills course and construction of a new trail spur connecting the existing single-track trail to the skills course.

“The proposed improvements are intended to provide additional challenges for experienced riders while also creating more clearly defined routes for beginner and intermediate users,” a council memo states.

Coulee River Trails has worked with trail designer Tim Wegner on a preliminary concept for the proposed improvements, mostly on the creation of a black trail.

The proposed extension would travel around the perimeter of the skills area, ascend the existing hill, and descend back into the skills course near the blue trailhead,” the memo explains.

CRT listed three reasons for the improvements:

• Reduced maintenance requirements: The existing skills course requires significant volunteer time to control weeds, remove rocks and debris, and maintain the individual riding features. The proposed design would create narrower and more clearly defined riding tracks. Increased and concentrated trail use may help suppress weed growth and reduce the amount of ongoing maintenance required.
• Increased use and accessibility: The current skills course does not fully utilize the size or terrain of the available area. The proposed design would establish separate beginner, intermediate, and advanced routes, allowing the course to serve a broader range of riders and skill levels. CRT volunteers would construct the beginner and intermediate tracks, while Wegner would primarily complete the advanced black trail extension.
• Improved appearance: The proposed project would create more defined riding routes and provide opportunities to landscape unused areas between the trails with rain gardens, trees, or other vegetation. These improvements could make the course appear more integrated with the rest of Magee Park while also reducing erosion and long-term maintenance needs.

The project may include the following elements:

• Creation of an advanced black trail around the perimeter of the skills course
• Construction of beginner and intermediate riding tracks by CRT volunteers
• Construction of a new trail spur connecting the existing single-track trail to the skills course
• Placement of approximately 400 cubic yards of fill to construct primarily earthen trail features
• Installation of a cedar fence between the paved trail and the mountain bike skills course
• Landscaping of unused areas with rain gardens, trees, or other appropriate vegetation
• Future construction of wooden trail overpasses. potentially beginning in spring 2027.

Other business

• The council approved a CDL certification reimbursement agreement for $2,044 between the city and new public works employee Ryder Doyle. He is also required to commit to 36 months of employment following certification.
• Wolf said Megan Langer has purchased the former Lucille’s property at 216 S. Broad St. and plans on tearing down the building and starting over. The council approved an $8,700 professional engineering services agreement with Cedar Corporation for alley storm sewer improvements; during heavy storm, water from the alley has been draining into 216 and 220 S. Broad. Langer has agreed to pay one-third; the city has reached out to the owners of 220 S. Broad St. to see if they would pay one-third as well.