NEW: Watertown City Council hears updated cost estimates on Foundation Plaza (Audio)

August 16, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–The Watertown City Council held a work session Monday afternoon where they heard updated cost estimates on developing and building a new downtown park called Foundation Plaza.

The hourlong discussion essentially boiled down to one question–should a skating rink be included in the project?

Jon Jacobson of the Confluence Group in Sioux Falls told the council that the park–without ice–would cost just under $2.5 million. With ice, it would be just over $3 million.

Councilman Colin Paulsen wondered how and why the talk of adding ice to the park started in the first place.

The answer came from City Manager Amanda Mack…

Councilman Randy Tupper supports the park…but not the ice…

Councilman Bruce Buhler says this started out as a modest project, but has grown to be much more than that…

Then Mayor Ried Holien weighed in…..

Colin Paulsen was the only councilman who expressed an interest in having ice be part of the project.

No action was taken.