WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A first look at a new dog park location has members excited for the future.
Monday evening following their regular monthly meeting a small group of Parks and Recreation Committee members visited a site that could become Wausau’s second dog park. The site is located off of 28th Ave. and is currently owned by the Wisconsin DOT as the state agency removed the old Menards building on the site for a highway project in the mid-2000s.
Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director Jamie Polley says the site is just under 10 acres and is being considered for a second dog park due to its larger space, location on the West side of town, and the site already being set up with a fence and maintenance road. Polley says there are some other factors to consider if the City decides to look into leasing the property from WisDOT.
“The overhead traffic with the overpasses, we don’t know if during the winter it would be impacted by snow plowing coming off. And then just maybe the access a little bit with how 28th Ave. is built. Currently right now it would be going to the north and getting in. So I don’t know if a curb cut would be available or not.”
Former Menards site in Wausau, WI off of 28th Avenue in 2021. Site is being considered for a second dog park in Wausau. (MWC file photo by Liz Holbrook).
Members of the committee visiting the site liked its layout and space for a second dog park. Committee Chair and District 1 Alder Pat Peckham says he was impressed by the site in his first look around on Monday. “I’m impressed that there is an access road that could become a walking road. The visibility of the whole property is really good so you wouldn’t lose your dog.
“You know there’s some highway noise, but I think if you’re talking with a friend as people do at dog parks you know watching the dogs play and such, I don’t think it’s going to ruin anybody’s experience. And the fact that the fencing is nearly complete and in place, this thing could be done reasonably inexpensively and so that’s a big plus for us.”
Polley says the City would likely keep the new dog park similar to what the site looks like now, just with infrastructure improvements. “A gravel path around rather than just the turf that’s here. But really a very kind of natural green space that could be utilized for open play with the dogs or walking around it.
“And keeping it really pretty simple. You know a parking lot and maybe a water station if possible. And then just making sure that we have the fencing all the way around it so we don’t have any animals ending up on the highway.”
While no action was taken on the site by the Parks and Recreation Committee, members present did recommend looking more into the site as the City’s second dog park. Polley says the next step would be to speak with the DOT regarding their interest in leasing the site to the City in the near future for the dog park.
Wausau’s first dog park opened this spring at 224 S. 4th Street with a fenced small dog area, large fenced area for dogs, drinking fountain, benches, dog waste stations, street, and on-site parking. The Wausau 2 Hearts Dog Park is open every weekday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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