Prairie du Chien may be Nature’s (next) Playground
These are just two of a half-dozen potential community logo examples created and shared with the Prairie du Chien Common Council Tuesday night. They both feature the tagline chosen by PdC Main Street, the mayor and city administrator but the final artwork isn’t yet complete. Once done, the intent is for a citywide, cohesive brand to be implemented.
By Correne Martin
“Prairie du Chien: Nature’s Playground” is a new tagline chosen by PdC Main Street to present to the city as a potential, more cohesive, community-wide brand. Coming to this conclusion was a process that began in 2015 under the leadership of PdC Main Street, which the city selected to lead the development of a visual identity project for the city.
“In 2015, we did a community exchange with Lake Mills and they observed that we had so much to offer but it was difficult to find it all,” shared Chris Mara, of PdC Main Street, with the common council Tuesday night. He explained that, back then, many of the city’s signs had come down due to the recent downtown streetscape and Marquette Road roundabout projects and some were not replaced. Of those existing, many displayed a variety of different fonts, colors and elements. “The initial intent was to overhaul the community wayfinding signs,” he said, in order to clarify communication and to provide a memorable and unique message for residents, businesses and tourism.
Since, Mara said, PdC Main Street held a brainstorming session a year ago, involving local residents and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. A stakeholder survey of 115 participants was also done online in September 2016.
This research found five important brand approaches: 1) community pride/quaint, 2) natural beauty and geography, 3) river—mostly Mississippi but also the confluence, 4) all season recreation/fun and entertainment, and 5) heritage/historical elements.
From there, PdC Main Street narrowed all ideas to five taglines and met as a board with the mayor and city administrator to choose one.
“It was pretty much unanimous,” Mara stated. “We felt [Prairie du Chien: Nature’s Playground] could be very flexible in its use.”
Some examples of using the phrase might include:
•Nature’s Playground ... a river of possibilities for family fun.
•Nature’s Playground...where businesses grow.
•Nature’s Playground...plant the seeds for new business growth.
•Nature’s Playground...between the bluffs and the Mississippi.
•Another day in Prairie-dise at Nature’s Playground.
•Nature’s Playground...explore Wisconsin’s second oldest community.
•Nature’s Playground...where legends come alive.
•Come Rendezvous...in Nature’s Playground.
The research also pointed out areas for improvement or what is needed in the city. Desires expressed included more retail shops and investment in rehabbing downtown historical business structures; more dining options, farm-to-table dining, outdoor dining, family steakhouses; family-friendly events that don’t revolve around alcohol, destination businesses, family vacation areas; water access, beach, better rentals, better access from river to main street businesses; performing arts pavilion, car shows, downtown street dance, events with national interest, more art events.
Next, PdC Main Street crowdsourced a project to create artwork that would mesh well with the tagline. Twenty-two artists participated and over 125 pieces were submitted, from which two artists now remain. The council was presented a couple variations of each of the two artists’ work. Mara said the organization plans to choose its final artist next week, but wanted to seek input from the council before doing so.
Alderman Nate Gilberts expressed concern that the city just spent money a few years ago to redo the city’s four entrance signs. He wondered if those would be changed for brand cohesiveness.
“We prefer to have the community as a whole using the cohesive message. I understand it’s going to cost money to transition,” Mara said. Though PdC Main Street seems certain to move forward with this brand downtown, there was no mention at the council meeting as to how branding would be paid for or implemented citywide.
In addition to signage, other ways to bring the brand to life in the community would include banners downtown, logo use by key stakeholders and perhaps local businesses, promotional merchandise, ads, templates, videos, social media, and maybe even a new “Nature’s Playground” in Lucky Park or near the riverfront.
Alderwoman Jean Titlbach thanked Mara and PdC Main Street for their work in finding some “hidden talents and being so creative” in all they’ve done. Mara added that, so far, the work has been done for under $1,000.
New administrator sits in
The new city administrator, Art Osten, Jr., sat in on his first council meeting and shared plenty of input. He thanked the council for the past week and a half. “I’ve been learning and listening a lot,” he said, noting that he’s spoken with department heads and is putting together a report on what’s happening. He also said he intends to get a handle on the budget and provide an update of that to the council.
Issues revolve around marina
Several other council agenda items centered around the city’s dispute with Regal Marine Group over the marina.
When approving beverage license renewals, the council voted to remove the Regals from the list of approved licenses, with the perception that they are no longer doing business in Prairie du Chien.
The council also approved the purchase of six slow-no wake buoys to be placed in the marina area.
“Since they’re no longer in business, the city is requesting this purchase at a cost of $2,586,” said Water Department Manager Larry Gates, also noting that the money will come from the boat landing budget. “They’re going in the St. Feriole slough at the marina site. We want to enforce slow-no wake from bank to bank in the slough area.”
In an update on a Dock Holiday request to connect its dock to water and electricity on the riverfront, City Planner Garth Frable recommended the request be denied until the future of the marina site is resolved.
In a memo to the city administrator, attorney and council, Frable stated, “It is not prudent for the city to allow Dock Holiday to become more established on the riverfront nor is it reasonable to allow Dock Holiday to make such an investment with so many open questions about the riverfront and the marina.”
He said a decision may not be made on the request until next boating season.
