Operation and maintenance costs of Watertown’s proposed Foundation Plaza still in question (Audio)

July 21, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–At their work session last week, the Watertown City Council heard an update on Foundation Plaza.

That’s the new park planned for the downtown area along Kemp Avenue, just south of County Fair Foods.

Watertown Parks and Recreation Director Terry Kelly told the council he’s been working on trying to come up with a cost estimate for operations and maintenance of the park once it’s open, but those numbers are difficult to come up with right now…

There are a number of factors that will go into O and M costs. One of those is whether the park will have an ice sheet in the winter months….

Mayor Ried Holien says it’s important to remember the ongoing costs of these projects once they’re finished…

The city has committed $3 million toward the development of the new park.