Shawano’s Naberhood Plaza has become the happening hotspot for the city’s downtown, but now it has a couple of awards that could make it even more attractive.
In early April, the city learned that it was selected as a winner for the American Public Works Association’s 2024 Wisconsin Chapter Project of the Year Award for small cities and rural communities. According to Jennifer Barlas with APWA, the award is handed out for historical restoration and preservation work with structures where there’s a strong alliance among municipalities, architects and contractors.
Strand Associates based in Madison was the primary consultant for the Naberhood project, which fully opened in April 2023. Peter’s Concrete from Green Bay was the primary contractor.
About three weeks later, City Administrator Eddie Sheppard was informed that the Wisconsin chapter for APWA submitted the project at the national level, and the Naberhood is receiving its award for Project of the Year in Structures. Shawano officials affiliated with the project will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sept. 9 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“It’s very common that you apply on these types of projects because they’re so unique,” Sheppard said. “They’re pretty competitive.”
Sheppard said submitting large capital projects like the Naberhood for APWA honors is standard for municipalities, so getting the state award was an honor. However, he had no idea the Naberhood would be getting laurels and beating out projects across the country.
“We were shocked when we found that out, because we didn’t even apply for that one,” Sheppard said.
The city hit the ground running last summer with its block parties at the plaza on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and Stubborn Brothers Brewery, which is next to the Naberhood, has been hosting events on Thursday nights during the summer to attract folks who attend concerts for Thursdayz at Franklin.
Sheppard noted that other organizations are looking to fill the plaza with activities on the other days of the week this summer and in future years.
“We’re seeing a tremendous amount of buy-in from the local community,” Sheppard said. “People are hosting events there, so it’s not all just city-run. We wanted it to be used by anyone who had a good idea to bring people out and get people excited about Shawano.”
Sheppard sees both awards as quite an honor.
“This is an affirmation that, not only did we do something pretty unique, but other people see that, too,” Sheppard said. “We always felt good here about this project and what it could do, and then you start winning awards across the state or across the country, it’s pretty cool to get that kind of recognition.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Naberhood recognized at state, national levels
