The display is located on city-owned land at the southeast corner of Monroe and Church streets. (Metro Wire photo)

Train display designated as park; ‘Leary Park’ naming advances

By Brandi Makuski

STEVENS POINT — A popular downtown train display took a step closer to official park status and a new name, pending final approval from the Common Council.

The Stevens Point Board of Park Commissioners on June 4 unanimously voted to recommend that the city designate the site—home to Soo Line steam locomotive 2713 and Caboose 158—as an official city park. The board also approved beginning the public process to name the site “Leary Park,” in honor of Herb and Theresa Leary, who helped fund key improvements at the location.

Located at the southeast corner of Monroe and Church streets, the train display has been maintained for decades by the Friends of 2713, a volunteer group led by John Kedrowski. Parks Director Dan Kremer told the commission the group has done much of the technical work over the years, including fundraising and project coordination.

“The reason this train looks as nice as it does, why the upgrades have happened, is all on the backs of the Friends of 2713,” Kremer said. “This would just be formalizing it—to recognize it as a park.”

The three parcels that make up the site were acquired by the city at different times, including a donation from the Soo Line Railroad in the 1980s. Kremer said the site is already listed in the city’s comprehensive outdoor recreation plan due to the city’s routine maintenance of the grounds.

The commission also voted to initiate the process of naming the park after the Learys, who donated $80,000 in 2004 to help build the structure covering the train display. Freckmann said their son-in-law, architect Bill Yeadon, played a central role in the project.

Under city policy, the naming recommendation must now be published for public comment. The commission will revisit the proposal in August, after the 30-day comment period, before sending a final recommendation to the Common Council. The park designation vote will also be forwarded to the Council for approval.

A formal dedication ceremony may follow, depending on the Leary family’s wishes.

“This is another unique situation where we’re really lucky to have a ton of volunteers involved with something the city owns,” Kremer said. “They make our job a lot easier.”

For more information, the Friends of 2713 can be reached at soo2713.org.