Ask Mr. Answer Person: "What's new with the Water Street Park?"

Daniel e-mails Mr. Answer Person: "What is the story on the Water St Plaza "kiosk"?  Work seems to have come to a halt. Any idea why this is so and when it might  be completed?  With the King and Queen of Norway, plus the many Luther 150th Anniversary Homecoming visitors coming to town this fall, along with the many other out of town guests who come here to view the fall colors, it is a shame that this project might not be done."

Mr. Answer Person says: The park originally had a completion deadline of Nordic Fest.  But even City Engineer Lindsay Erdman admits "The project was a lot more complicated than we thought."  But he says the park stands a good chance of being completed on October 13th when the King and Queen of Norway visit Decorah.

The big hang-up right now is delivery of the permeable pavers that will be used in the Water Street Park.  Erdman calls the pavers "unique," and notes the permeable pavers just have limited availability.  Erdman says the delivery of the pavers has been delayed until the end of September.  He wants to publicly thank Shane Pinter for his help in getting the pavers ordered and delivered. 

In the meantime, "clean up work" will be done over the next two weeks.  The kiosk that you mention is almost entirely built, with a few minor tasks remaining.  There will be some more landscaping work and a few other small projects, but the main part of the project that remains is the installation of the permeable pavers.  Erdman says once the pavers arrive, the contractor is promising a quick installation.