City learns it must upgrade Coulee Playland for ADA compliance

Nothing is easy, not even at a place called Playland.

An estimated million dollars of upgrades are needed at Coulee Playland to bring it up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, the Electric City Council learned last week. 

The popular campground that includes a tackle and camping gear shop, boat launch, and more has been in the process of being sold to new owners this year.

That process has been slowed as the Bureau of Reclamation reviews the new agreement between the city and the potential new owners to make sure it doesn’t contradict any terms between the city and the bureau, which leases the land to the city.

In reviewing the new agreement, the USBR found a list dating back to 2004 listing ADA deficiencies at the location.

Those 72 deficiencies will cost roughly $1 million to correct.

The USBR will match city dollars toward those repairs, over a 10-year period. In theory, if the city puts $50,000 a year toward repairs for 10 years, the bureau would match that, equaling $1 million after 10 years.

Mayor Diane Kohout said the potential new business owners, after being updated on the situation, haven’t said whether the circumstances would affect their decision to purchase it.

The situation came as news to Electric City government officials as it was discussed at their Oct. 11 council meeting.

The city’s plan is to, before the end of this year, come up with a 10-year plan to present to the bureau stating what they will update in each of those 10 years to bring the property up to ADA standards. 

Money to pay for the upgrades could come from the city’s general fund, but also from ADA-related and other grants, Kohout told The Star.

The upgrades to be done include bringing ADA standards to campsites, picnic tables, the laundry room, bathrooms, fish cleaning station, parking spaces, and more to make the campground usable for people in wheelchairs and other conditions.