WI Dells Elm Street Plaza
Elm Street Plaza Bandshell
7/2/2023; a giant mural of angel wings adorns a wall; people regularly take photos of themselves centered within the wings.
After four years from its conception (two of planning and two of construction) the Elm Street Plaza opened on Friday, June 2, 2023. It is located on Broadway, in central downtown of WI Dells. Included in the Plaza are a bandshell/stage, concession stand, the "Kugel Ball" fountain (a floating spinning stone globe), restrooms, a green room for performers, a partial kitchen, administrative office space, and a giant mural featuring WI Dells inspired artwork. Chairs and tables with umbrellas invite both local community members and tourists to relax and enjoy the scene in the middle of the downtown.
The WI Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau and the WI Dells Business Improvement District (BID) were leaders in the Plaza creation. Total Plaza cost was $5.5M and was a joint venture betwen the WI Dells Visitors Convention Bureau and The City of WI Dells. The Plaza received $3.5M from the WI Tourism Capital Grant program which helped to expedite the project. This grant was announced by Gov. Tony Evers at Wizard Quest on Feb. 4, 2022.
MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA) worked with the WI Dells Visitors and Convention Bureau, downtown businesses and property owners to design the Plaza. The focus was to create "something in purposeful contrast to the bright showy colors and materials of the water park resorts - a place to tell the story of WI Dells in its natural glory."
Plaza at a Glance (Information from the WI Dells.com)
Plaza Footprint: 35,000 square feet
Location: 350 Broadway, downtown Wisconsin Dells
Development Funded By: Estimated $5.5 million funded by the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau (WDVCB) Tourism Economic Development Fund as well as the State of Wisconsin Tourism Capital Grant Program.
In 2022, WDVCB gifted the Elm Street Plaza to the City of Wisconsin Dells.
Timeline: Construction began fall of 2021 with a spring 2023 open date.
Development Partnership: Joint venture between the WDVCB and City of Wisconsin Dells.
Engineers/Architects: MSA Professional Services, Inc., Madison & Baraboo, WI.
Construction Manager/General Contractor: Holtz Builders, Inc., Lake Delton, WI.
Operations: WDVCB/Wisconsin Dells Festivals, Inc. will market, program and manage all plaza operations. The Wisconsin Dells Business Improvement
District (BID), City of Wisconsin Dells, and revenue generated from plaza programming and concessions will fund plaza operations and entertainment.
Parking: The City of Wisconsin Dells offers many parking options near the plaza, including individual stalls and parking lots. A drop-off zone on Broadway is available for motorcoach buses and anyone needing extra assistance
The WI Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau and the WI Dells Business Improvement District (BID) were leaders in the Plaza creation. Total Plaza cost was $5.5M and was a joint venture betwen the WI Dells Visitors Convention Bureau and The City of WI Dells. The Plaza received $3.5M from the WI Tourism Capital Grant program which helped to expedite the project. This grant was announced by Gov. Tony Evers at Wizard Quest on Feb. 4, 2022.
MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA) worked with the WI Dells Visitors and Convention Bureau, downtown businesses and property owners to design the Plaza. The focus was to create "something in purposeful contrast to the bright showy colors and materials of the water park resorts - a place to tell the story of WI Dells in its natural glory."
Plaza at a Glance (Information from the WI Dells.com)
Plaza Footprint: 35,000 square feet
Location: 350 Broadway, downtown Wisconsin Dells
Development Funded By: Estimated $5.5 million funded by the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau (WDVCB) Tourism Economic Development Fund as well as the State of Wisconsin Tourism Capital Grant Program.
In 2022, WDVCB gifted the Elm Street Plaza to the City of Wisconsin Dells.
Timeline: Construction began fall of 2021 with a spring 2023 open date.
Development Partnership: Joint venture between the WDVCB and City of Wisconsin Dells.
Engineers/Architects: MSA Professional Services, Inc., Madison & Baraboo, WI.
Construction Manager/General Contractor: Holtz Builders, Inc., Lake Delton, WI.
Operations: WDVCB/Wisconsin Dells Festivals, Inc. will market, program and manage all plaza operations. The Wisconsin Dells Business Improvement
District (BID), City of Wisconsin Dells, and revenue generated from plaza programming and concessions will fund plaza operations and entertainment.
Parking: The City of Wisconsin Dells offers many parking options near the plaza, including individual stalls and parking lots. A drop-off zone on Broadway is available for motorcoach buses and anyone needing extra assistance
Performances on the stage occur on a regular basis during the summertime.
A Farmers Market is held regularly along with an annual classic car show in early May.
A Farmers Market is held regularly along with an annual classic car show in early May.
7/2/2023; MSA descripation:
constructed of gabion baskets (galvanized steel, double twisted, woven wire mesh) with tumbled colored glass inside, backlit and luminescent at night".
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7/2/2023; Kugel Ball at entrance to the Plaza; stage in the background. From MSA: "constructed of granite, this nearly 20,000 pound centerpiece is inscribed to look like the globe and sits in a hollow pedestal. Water pumped from beneath the ball supports the weight and allows the sphere to rotate freely, a behemoth essentially aquaplaning on a thin film of water."
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