David Schardt of Bay View created this ice sculpture outside his home, until the city cut it down. Credit: Photos courtesy of David Schardt

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David Schardt is an inventor.

The 41-year-old home builder transformed a children's bicycle into a tennis ball launcher in the fall. This winter, he decided to work with ice.

He drilled a hole through the wall of his Bay View home and hooked up a garden hose from his bathroom to a pole and string outside. With the contraption hanging more than three stories high over the chain-link fence separating his home from Ellen Field, he controlled a stream of dripping water for months to create an ice sculpture.

In its prime, the sculpture stood 30 feet high and at least five feet in diameter in the park.

"I'm always doing different, strange things, and I thought it'd be cool," he said. "And it was cool. The neighbors all thought it was awesome."

Milwaukee city officials didn't share the enthusiasm. City crews took chainsaws and ropes to the sculpture Wednesday morning, felling it like a tree and cutting it in pieces.

One engineer estimated the sculpture's weight at more than eight tons. The shards were hauled to a forestry site, where they'll eventually melt in warmer weather, according to the Department of Neighborhood Services.

The city maintains the massive icicle had to come down. It violated city plumbing codes, and because it was on public property, the city would have been liable for any injuries or other problems.

Moreover, if the sculpture had fallen over, it would have hit a city fence, nearby bleachers or Schardt's home.

The city is tallying removal costs and considering whether to issue a citation.

"In 28 years, I've never seen anything like this," said Todd Weiler, a spokesman for neighborhood services. "It's a distraction, but we have to deal with the hazards that come up."

Weiler said the ice sculpture would probably have been allowed on a large enough piece of private property, as long as a plumbing review were conducted.

"It's a bummer. I wish more people could have enjoyed it and seen it," Schardt said. "The city had to protect its interests, which I understand."

The demolition also put an end to the online contest he'd organized: Whoever could predict when the sculpture would melt completely would win $50.

For his next project, Schardt is working on a sports event website, www.zort.info, and an international address system. Would he consider another public art project, given the unceremonious leveling of his ice sculpture?

"Possibly. You never know what'll pop into my head next," he said.