La Crosse park board approves patio project at the Hatchery, while Moon Tunes sign idea is dropped

A riverfront business in La Crosse could soon offer more outdoor space for customers.

The city park board has approved a request by the Hatchery hotel at Riverside Park to develop an outside terrace, on space now occupied by a garage.

Plans for the project submitted to the city describe the proposed terrace as a location for refreshments, catering, and celebrations. The project would be funded privately, with no money needed from the city.

The Hatchery operates out of the former fish lab building, also known locally as the fish hatchery, at the north end of Riverside Park.

In other park business discussed by the board, plans for a new idea to promote the Moon Tunes summer concerts have been dropped.

The Valley View Rotary had proposed displaying a 5-foot-high sign near the Riverside Park bandshell on concert nights, with the message “Moon Tunes free concert.” But concert organizer Terry Bauer told the park board that his group had second thoughts about the need for such a sign, based partly on the estimated $80 cost to make it.

Board members officially voted “no” on the sign idea, but suggested that the group could re-apply in the future for a different sign. The first Moon Tunes evening concert for this season will be on Thursday, June 6th.