MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Ho-Chunk Nation is looking into a potential development near its Madison casino that could include a sports complex, museum and entertainment venue.
Mayor Paul Soglin told the Wisconsin State Journal (https://bit.ly/1Cpxc3e ) of the city’s interested, but discussions for developing the nearly 48-acre site are still at an early stage.
Missy Tracy, municipal relations coordinator for Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, said it’s too early to estimate a cost or timetable for the project.
“Right now, they’re just ideas,” she said.
The city has holdings in the area, including the 36-hole Yahara Hills golf course and two undeveloped sites: 82.2 acres envisioned for a community park and a 43.5-acre parcel with no identified use.
In 2014, the tribe hired local planning firm Urban Assets to help identify potential uses for the property, which includes two parking areas for the casino and 44 open acres, Tracy said.
The leading ideas include a sports complex, cultural attraction or museum and entertainment venue. Tracy said the development could also include retail, lodging and ecotourism.
A memo from the Ho-Chunk to the city says the Madison area lacks adequate sports facilities to serve a growing number of teams, organizations and events. The memo says a sports complex would require public and private partnerships.
“We’re not trying to be competitive with anything,” Tracy said. “What does the city of Madison need?”
Madison Parks Superintendent Eric Knepp said the city has taken no position on that piece of the tribe’s concept but he said the area could use destination facilities for soccer, lacrosse and other field games. He said the region has facilities for baseball and softball in Mauston and the Wisconsin Dells.
The tribe’s memo said the Ho-Chunk also lacks a permanent location to commemorate its history, and the tribe’s heritage could be a focal point or theme running through the development. The tribe can’t expand its gambling facility but could remodel or improve it as part of the larger redevelopment, Tracy said.
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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, https://www.madison.com/wsj
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