Exhibit renovation

New Schmeeckle garage, October 2024

Garage Project

Schmeeckle Reserve has long needed a garage to store the variety of vehicles, equipment, and tools that are used to maintain the natural area on a daily basis. In 2023 and 2024, the Friends of Schmeeckle partnered with the university to make this project a reality. The result is a substantial 26-foot by 40-foot building constructed behind the visitor center that blends in with the landscape. Half of the $70,000 project was funded by the Friends group, including several generous donations by Friends members. Click here to view a list of donors.

Project Background

In January 2023, Friends volunteer crew members Mike Orella and Tom Mihm worked with Schmeeckle Reserve director Jim Buchholz to develop a design for a 26-foot by 40-foot garage that could be constructed on the southwest side of the visitor center, where several small storage sheds were located. The garage was designed to best meet the needs of Schmeeckle’s operations while maximizing the space available. The original idea was to build the garage with volunteer assistance, but the scope of the project was more complex than originally planned. The plan was submitted to UW System and the State Building Commission for review and approval.

Bid requests for the project were released in November 2023. Ross Rettler, a Friends board member and Project Manager at the Rettler Corporation, donated his time to create a site and grading plan. Dale Ladick Trucking & Excavating of Vesper was selected by the Friends to excavate and prepare the site (this was the same company that resurfaced the Lake Loop). Superior Roofing & Remodeling of Stevens Point was selected to construct the building.

In May and June 2024, members of the Friends volunteer crew cleared the site behind the visitor center for excavation. One of the smaller storage sheds was carefully lifted and moved to the gravel overflow parking lot. The other shed was dismantled. A small number of trees in the project area were removed.

In early July 2024, the Ladick Trucking & Excavating team began doing site preparation work. This included tearing up and removing the old asphalt, straightening out the entrance driveway to North Point Drive, bringing in and leveling sand fill for the garage site, and bringing in and compacting gravel for the driveway areas. In August 2024, work began on the actual garage itself. A crew from Badgerland Concrete Products leveled the site and poured a floating slab concrete floor and concrete approach ramps from August 6-12. Superior Roofing & Remodeling installed the wood frame walls, sheathing, and metal roof from August 19-23. The garage doors were installed on September 4. Electric service was installed in the building by UWSP Facility Services electricians during the month of September.

Wood siding was selected for the garage to better blend with the landscape and match other Schmeeckle structures. The Friends volunteer crew agreed to install and paint all of the siding for the new building. The siding was installed over the course of several “Tuesday” sessions starting on September 10, with the final painting being completed on October 24.

Project Results

The final garage structure is 26-feet by 40-feet in size, with a large garage door on the north end and a smaller garage door and service door facing the visitor center. A green metal roof, seamless rain gutters, and painted engineered wood siding protect the building. The garage provides ample space for storing the Schmeeckle truck, UTV Gator, wood chipper, and numerous other equipment and tools. It also provides space to prepare for special events, such as filling torches for the Candlelight Hike Festivals.

Click the albums below to view photos of the garage being constructed.