Near East Play Fields Reconstruction
University of Wisconsin – Madison
This project will comprise the conversion an existing four-acre natural grass field, located at 1810 Observatory Drive, into an artificial turf field complex for sports and recreation use. Proposed fields include four intermural level soccer fields and one championship soccer/rugby field. The project also includes updating lighting, fencing, installation of score boards, a public announcement system, a small building for storage and restrooms, landscaping, bicycle and moped parking, entries for maintenance and emergency medical service access, and a regional underground stormwater management system to collect sediment from a 32-acre watershed on campus. Construction required for the project includes excavation and rebuilding of the field area, stormwater connections to existing stormwater pipes, and electric, heat, water and sewer connections to the new support buildings along the eastern boundary. Construction is slated for September 2023 to October 2024. The project budget is $10 million.
The University of Wisconsin System Administration (UWSA) has retained Ayres on behalf of UW-Madison to prepare an EIA in accordance with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA), Wisconsin Statutes 1.11, and UWSA guidelines (Board of Regents’ Resolution 2508, November 6, 1981). The purpose of the Draft EIA is to identify the project’s potential impacts on the physical, biological, social, and economic environments. The Draft EIA describing these potential impacts is being made available to the public and appropriate federal, state, and local agencies for a 15-day minimum review period, which begins on March 13 and concludes on March 27. Copies of the document will be available for review at the UW-Madison Memorial Library and Madison Central Library and they are digitally available at the bottom of this page.
A public meeting to present the Draft EIA will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023. The meeting will be held virtually and may be attended online at https://meet.goto.com/164149701 or via phone by dialing +1 (872) 240-3212 followed by access code 164-149-701. A description of the project and potential environmental impacts will be presented. All persons will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to identify both orally and in writing any support, issues, or concerns they believe should be further addressed during the EIA process.
If you are interested in this project or have any information relevant to it, we welcome your comments, suggestions, or other input. For consideration in the Final EIA, please submit your comments at the meeting or in writing by March 27, 2023. Comments in writing can be sent to:
Mitchell Banach, PG
Ayres Associates
3433 Oakwood Hills Parkway
Eau Claire, WI 54701
BanachM@AyresAssociates.com
Click Here to View:
Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (6,184 Kb, PDF)
Comment Form (97 Kb, PDF)