KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – The city of Kaukauna is rolling out a new project to give purpose to an unexpected area in the downtown space.
Officials call it the ‘Alley Activation Project,’ which will connect the 2nd Street Alley and 3rd Street Alley near Heritage Mall and The Pub.
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Alley Activation is the concept of utilizing alleys to create a space for business and public use, drawing pedestrian activity.
Kaukauna officials are hoping the alley and vacant lots between 2nd Street and 3rd Street will be converted into an attraction with beautification elements such as modern lighting, outdoor seating, a paved boardwalk, and planting areas.
“We believe this project will provide a space for the community to gather and bring business
into the downtown area,” Lily Paul, associate planner for the city of Kaukauna, said. “The project
also connects the Nelson Trail and the Konkapot Trail going through the Fox Valley, creating a
gateway into our downtown.”
Set to begin in April, the Alley Activation Project is a result of a workshop conducted in the fall
of 2021 by Ayres Associates Inc. and funded through the East Central Wisconsin Regional
Planning Commission.
The workshop identified areas of improvement for the 2nd Street and 3rd Street alleyways and provided conceptual drawings detailing possible outcomes for the spaces.
The City then worked with Trevor Frank, an architect from Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. and longtime Kaukauna advocate, to develop the concepts into a design.
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“There was a lot of research and planning that went into the design for this project,” Kaukauna
Mayor Tony Penterman said. “Our city has a lot to offer for people looking to live, work, visit, and
do business. As a city, we want to do everything we can to help facilitate a community of choice
where people can do just that.”
The project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
