New park to test what's public, what's private

At the end of a prolonged discussion of Scott County's plans to open its first major park under its own control, the county attorney flashed a quick smile.

He likes to fish Cedar Lake, Pat Ciliberto said. "But I'm going to have to spiff up my fishing poles if there's a chance I might be invited to join in on a wedding."

Just a tease. Perhaps. But one that illustrated the traps the county faces as it prepares to unveil a new species of park.

Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, a few miles from New Prague, will be a hybrid: conventional up to a point, but also, to save money, operated by a private vendor making money from paying events.

Somehow these two purposes are to work together, without feeling as incongruous as an angler with bait-smelly fingers tiptoeing around the fringes of a wedding.

As the days tick down toward a tentative grand opening date of June 13, it's becoming clearer that Cedar Lake Farm is an experiment, with a lot of things to be tried for now and perhaps discarded later.

Reliant as they are on Lancer Hospitality Services as an alternative to taxes or fees, county commissioners clearly want any entity labeled as a park to feel like a park and not some company's private domain.

That, however, brought a further clarification from the county's parks and trails manager, Mark Themig, who is negotiating the deal:

"There's a limit to the size of a group that can bring in its own food. Otherwise it takes away from Lancer." The limit, he said, may be a group the size of a single family; "but we'll have to monitor that."

The 230-acre Cedar Lake Farm site has a catering kitchen, picnic tables, ball fields, boats, docks and other facilities.

Although it will be a public park, Themig said, the first point of contact for those inquiring about its use will be the company, not the county.

Nor is there any agreement yet over how to split any proceeds from park operations.

Although the offer to run a park drew strong interest from several entities, the park is a long drive from major population centers. And it is hardly in pristine condition.

One idea being kicked around is to pair it with another recreational property, the municipal golf course in New Prague, about 4 miles down the road.

With that course's number of rounds sold declining and the board considering new discounts on drinks to "entice people to spend more money," according to a recent set of minutes, there has been talk of combining forces with Cedar Lake to offer joint deals, said the golf course's general manager, Ken Norland.

In the meantime, neighbors worry about such things as jet skiers coming in, or amplified music, especially at night.

Still, officials say, using at least part of Scott County's long-held but long-unused park property is something to look forward to. It opens lots of possibilities, including partnerships with the YMCA and other groups.