Don’s Deck approved

CLINTONVILLE – The construction of an above ground seating area that will provide two levels of deck space for spectators to set up foldable chairs to watch ball games at Don Jirschele Stadium at W.A. Olen Park has been approved by the Clintonville Common Council.
The approval came at the council’s April 8 meeting. The approval was contingent on the city discussing with the Clintonville Athletic Club (CAC), the feasibility of accessibility for the handicapped.

Deck area
The idea of building the deck for seating was suggested to the city by the CAC in a March 22 letter to the Clintonville Public Works Committee. In the letter, the CAC requested permission to construct the viewing deck, which would be named Don’s Deck “in honor of the late Don Jirschele.”
The deck would be located next to the home dugout and would provide fans attending baseball games with “a great view of the action on the field.”

According to the letter, the deck would be approximately 32-feet-by-12-feet with stairs at each end. It would be three to five feet tall. The deck would also have a railing all the way around. The front portion of the deck closest to the field would be about three feet above the ground and the back portion would be about five feet above the ground.
“It is designed for people to bring their own chairs to sit on each level while allowing enough room for people to move past one another,” it was stated in the letter.
Part of the construction of the deck would be done by the Clintonville High School technical education students as part of their class curriculum. The portion of construction that would not be completed by high school students would be completed by CAC members and Clintonville A’s players.
“This project will provide an excellent learning opportunity for our community’s youth,” it was stated in the letter.
The construction material would be purchased locally in Clintonville and the CAC would pay for the material.
“Our goal is to have Don’s Deck open for as many games as possible this year,” it was stated in the letter.
In an April 8 memo from Clintonville Public Works Director Justin Mc Auly to Clintonville Mayor Steve Kettenhoven and the council, Mc Auly said the city’s building inspector had reviewed the project. A building permit would be required for the construction of the deck, and that cost would be covered by the CAC.
Mc Auly added that the Clintonville Public Works Committee also reviewed the project, and recommended approval of the project.
Council discussion
During the discussion during the council meeting, Kettenhoven said he thinks it is great that the CAC wants to build Don’s Deck, but added that he would like to see the CAC and the school contact the Clintonville Lions Club about installing a ramp on the deck to make it handicap accessible.
“I don’t think we should overlook the accessibility portion and the ADA portion of it,” Kettenhoven said. “I would love to see it contingent upon putting a ramp on there.”