State Building Commission OKs $207 million in parks, university projects

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Wisconsin construction projects worth around $207 million were greenlit after a commission vote.

The State Building Commission on Wednesday voted to approve the money for construction projects including repairs and upgrades to state facilities and University of Wisconsin System campuses, announced Gov. Tony Evers.

“I’m proud the state continues to prioritize projects that ensure fundamental institutions have the foundation to support both current and future needs,” Evers said in a statement. “Wisconsinites know the value these institutions bring to everyday quality of life, and supporting their success is essential to planning for the kind of future we want to see for our state.”

Here are highlighted public projects that the commission approved.

• Construction of a new health services unit and expansion of the restrictive housing unit at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections’ Wisconsin Secure Program Facility in Boscobel.
• Replacement of the emergency generator at Camp Williams in Camp Douglas for the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs DMA. The project includes addressing equipment failure and transitioning to natural gas.
• Construction of several key projects for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including a boat launch and road improvements project at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest, improving safety and replacing aging infrastructure at 11 sites and channel repairs at the Montello/Fox River Locks for the Montello Dam.
• The release of Stewardship Property Development funds for the DNR’s Friends Grants program, benefiting 32 nonprofit conservation projects, such as visitor center construction at Aztalan State Park in Jefferson County, hiking trail bridge replacement efforts at Buckhorn State Park in Juneau County, trail remediation efforts at High Cliff State Park in Calumet County, infrastructure improvements at Pattison State Park in Douglas County, and more.
• Building Trust Funds design releases for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to prepare preliminary plans and specifications for four key projects at the Wisconsin Resource Center, Winnebago Mental Health Institute and Southern Wisconsin Center.
• Construction of the Polk Library Facility Renewal project at UW-Oshkosh, modernizing the campus library into a flexible learning commons that improves accessibility, replaces failing building systems and consolidates academic and student support services into a hub for instruction and research.
• Completion of exterior repairs at Chapman Hall on the UW-Milwaukee campus through the 2023-25 Minor Facilities Renewal Program.
• Approval of 13 maintenance and repair projects across 14 counties for DOC, DMA, DHS, and the UW System.