WFDL news has learned that Fond du Lac’s Winnebago Lutheran Academy has decided to back away from a proposed lease agreement with the city of Fond du Lac concerning the development of McDermott Park. WLA Pastor John Boggs told WFDL news the school notified city officials of their decision Tuesday. “WLA has decided we’re going to discontinue negotiations with the city on the proposed lease and improvements to McDermott Park, sort of step back a little bit and to look at how we can best carry out our mission and ministry here in Fond du Lac,” Boggs said. WLA initially approached the city with plans to build ball diamonds and expand a parking lot on a portion of the park. The proposal was met with public opposition and was delivered a major setback when the city learned a portion of the park to be developed was in a floodway. Boggs says WLA was also concerned about the public perception of the school. “There was concern over the Academy’s reputation in the community,” Boggs said. “…the things that have come out about how were are perceived and some of the things that have been said about us. There was a concern about that especially in light of the fact that we’ve been around 91 years and want to preserve the good name that we do have in Fond du Lac.” Boggs says school leaders will take a step back and decide what the school’s long range plans are for their present location.
