DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held an online public meeting on Thursday to discuss the future of the Potawatomi State Park observation tower.
The tower closed in 2017 after its wood structure was found to by decaying. In 2020, the tower was placed on the state and national registers of historic places.
Some of those who spoke at the meeting want the tower to be rebuilt with better accessibility. Some want it to only be restored, and others think it should be torn down.
“We’re very concerned about making sure that if the Potawatomi tower is to be rebuilt that it’s made accessible for all so that people with disabilities have equal access,” said Monica Wagner, attorney with Disability Rights Wisconsin.
“I think there are ways once we get it repaired that we can make it accessible to handicapped individuals, but we can’t tear down this historic structure because of those ADA requirements,” said Rep. Joel Kitchens of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
“I believe this expenditure is not a very good idea at all. To commit $5 million, as I understand, to rehabilitate this tower is a very poor allocation of funds,” Sturgeon Bay resident Karl Schroeder said.
A survey is available on the DNR’s website for those who wish to express their opinion on the future of the tower.
