NEENAH — The renovation of the historic Whiting Boathouse on Doty Island will begin this month, and the construction of a pavilion at Memorial Park will follow this spring or summer.
The Common Council on Wednesday unanimously awarded the boathouse renovation to IEI General Contractors Inc. of De Pere for $176,000 and the pavilion project to Milbach Construction Services Co. of Appleton for $291,000.
Both were low bids and within budget.
The boathouse, 515 Clark St., is Neenah's most popular rented facility. It was built in 1932 by paper manufacturer Frank Whiting and has been under the control of the Park and Recreation Department since the early 1970s.
"It is used for weddings, picnics, retirement parties and company Christmas gatherings," said Parks and Recreation Director Eileen McCoy. "Pretty much every weekend it is rented, and many weekdays, too."
The renovation of the boathouse will occur during February, March and early April.
The project will make the building handicapped accessible and will include renovated restrooms, new windows, a new entrance, a new heating system, air conditioning, a gas log for the fireplace and a patio.
McCoy said the new windows will mimic the appearance of the old windows.
"We are sensitive to the fact that it is a local historical building," she said.
The boathouse is eligible for the Neenah Register of Historic Places, but assistant city planner Carol Kasimor said there has been no push to add the landmark to the register.
"The Landmarks Commission would have to review putting it on the register," Kasimor said. "They just haven't considered it yet."
The new pavilion at Memorial Park will be built at the south end near the sled hill and skating rink.
The 3,000-square-foot building will include a large meeting room with a fireplace, a kitchenette with a serving window, a small meeting room for use as a warming shelter, and restrooms.
"It will have a similar appearance to the existing shelter" at the north end of the park, McCoy said.
