City of Wausau. MWC file graphic
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s Parks and Recreation Committee is looking for ideas on how to improve the city’s only skate park.
City and County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director Jamie Polley says her department is working with a consulting firm to design the upgrades, while also incorporating current elements that the users want to hold on to. “Some of the features have reached their useful life and we have been replacing some of the surfacings over time,” said Polley. “It is in OK shape for now, and our consultant is looking at what it would take to refurbish some of those elements.”
Polley and the consultants met with users of the park for a listening session last week, and the department is also soliciting feedback through a survey. The 16-question poll asks users which elements they like and don’t like and if there are elements from other skate parks that they would like to see integrated. “That’s really good feedback because then the consultant can see what they like about the flow of those [other] parks as well,” added Polley.
The consulting firm is California-based Spohn Ranch. They will be tasked with putting concept plans together for the city later this spring based on the feedback from the survey and last week’s public input session.
In addition to the new or refurbished elements, the park will see new surfacing. Polley says the current blacktop surface has some exposed aggregate and cracking. Plans are to replace that with a concrete surface.
The project is being funded through $225,000 in ARPA funding from the city, which can be used for outdoor recreation projects. The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin added a $25,000 grant. They’ve also secured some private donations but Polley adds they are short of their goal of $300,000. “We’ll take donations either through the City of Wausau or the [County] Parks Department, we do have a separate designated fund for [the project.]”
Polley says they’ll also apply for some additional grant funding if needed.
The survey period runs through February 20th, those interested can take it by clicking here. No start date for the improvements has been set. Polley says the earliest the project could begin is later this summer, though it may get pushed off longer depending on contractor availability.
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