Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Shane Blaser
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — Parks leaders in the city of Wisconsin Rapids will be considering a permanent name for their new outdoor aquatic center and the complex that surrounds it this spring.
“I’m going to bring forth to the Parks and Rec Commission that I think we need to look at settling down on a name,” said Mayor Shane Blaser. “Whether it be recreation complex at Witter Field, [or something else], but I think it’s time that it have a name.”
Blaser says there are sponsorship opportunities for the facility through the original capital campaign, but he’d really like to see the community come together to decide what the facility should be called.
“Ideally, I’d like to see the community come together and settle down on a name for it. Whether that be a contest or something that is identifiable to our community. I think that would be the best way to name it,” he said.
Both Blaser and WSAU News Director Mike Leischer then agreed that the city shouldn’t hold an online pool for ideas at the risk of ending up with a name like “Pooly McPoolface.”
“We have a lot of history and tradition in our community- you know it’s a paper mill town, we have cranberries; so I think there’s an opportunity for a unique name. Something other than ‘Wisconsin Rapids Recreational Complex.'”
In addition to the outdoor aquatic center, the complex also includes historic Witter Field and the city’s outdoor skate park. The facility also includes outdoor skating rinks that can be used in the winter and an indoor community center that’s available to be rented for gatherings.
The facility was funded both through the city and private donations and opened last year for local residents. It was one of just a handful of outdoor pools that did open amid the COVID-19 outbreak
Other topics Mayor Blaser discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Good March weather and what’s keeping the streets crews busy without snow to remove
2:50- Upgrades to the city’s municipal zoo
3:50- Street project updates
6:00- Help wanted for the summer
8:18- Name for the city’s aquatic center
11:00- Verso update
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