TimelineDecember 1950: Nathan Bergstrom makes a proposal to the Neenah City Council asking to use the lake shore as a landfill area to dispose of the Bergstrom Paper Company's waste. In the same year, the company starts using the lake shore as a landfill, with plans for a future park.
Early 1951: The State of Wisconsin deeds approximately 32 acres of the newly formed land to the City of Neenah for a public purpose. July 2, 1951: The City of Neenah leases 3.29 acres of the land to the Bergstrom Paper Company for the construction of a waste water treatment plant. 1970: The Bergstrom Paper Company requests more land for private use and is granted the land by the city. October 1973: Bergstrom Paper Company hires Shattuck, Siewert, and Associates, a landscape architect company, to design the park. 1974: The Bergstrom Paper Company again requests and is granted more land. March 1975: The landfill site is officially designated by the city as a public recreational area. July 1975: Bergstrom Paper Company and the City of Neenah come up with a cost sharing plan to split the cost of closing the landfill. 1982: Highly toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) deposits are found in the landfill site, and the DNR suggests that the construction of the park be terminated. 1983: The city begins to charge Bergstrom Paper Company $12,000 per year as rent for the waterfront land site. 1983: For the third and final time the Bergstrom Paper Company is granted additional land for personal use. 1995: The city of Neenah leases out a portion of the plant to Minergy July 1996: Minergy begins the construction of a plant. February 1998: Minergy begins operation of the plant and processes its own waste. May 1999: Minergy announces plans to install a $2 million steam turbine to generate electricity for use by the plant and for sale. January 2002: Minergy changes fuel from natural gas to coal. June 2006: The Glatfelter paper mill, Minergy's largest steam customer, closes. September 2006: Minergy becomes Fox Valley Energy Center under the Thermagen Power Group of Chicago. June 2013: The plant closes. It had been processing 200,000 tons of paper sludge annually, diverting that waste from landfills. November 2014: Neenah officials reach a tentative agreement to demolish the plant. June 2018: Loop the Lake trail officially opens which includes the park. Spring 2021: Redevelopment of Arrowhead Park begins with Phase 1A. |
Works Cited
Behnke, Duke. "Neenah, Menasha Seek Twin Trestles for Trail Loop." Post-Crescent Media. N.p., n.d. Web.
Dunwiddie, William E. The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation. Place of Publication Not Identified: W.E. Dunwiddie, 1993. Print.
"Future Neenah." Future Neenah. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Neenah Strikes Deal to Raze Former Minergy Plant." Post-Crescent Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Parks & Recreation." City of Neenah. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"The State: The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation: Neenah's Phantom Park." The State: The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation: Neenah's Phantom Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Untitled." Untitled. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Videos." City of Neenah Arrowhead Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
Dunwiddie, William E. The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation. Place of Publication Not Identified: W.E. Dunwiddie, 1993. Print.
"Future Neenah." Future Neenah. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Neenah Strikes Deal to Raze Former Minergy Plant." Post-Crescent Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Parks & Recreation." City of Neenah. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"The State: The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation: Neenah's Phantom Park." The State: The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation: Neenah's Phantom Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Untitled." Untitled. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
"Videos." City of Neenah Arrowhead Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.