Oak Island skatepark opens new concrete features; parks staff update on trees, splash pad and ash-borer removals

Parks staff told the City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee Aug. 4 that the Oak Island Skatepark’s new concrete features will open with a ribbon-cutting and a community skate jam this weekend, and provided status updates on other park projects including splash pad work, roof repairs and tree-planting efforts. Jamie, Parks Department staff, said the skatepark grand opening will be Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include remarks from the mayor, a representative from Central Board Shop and donors. "This will be all the concrete features that will open up," Jamie said, adding that remaining older features will be refurbished as staff time permits. Jamie reported the Kasurk Kids Foundation had fulfilled a promised donation for pickleball-related work and said contractors are due to pave an adjacent basketball court when public works schedules allow. The department is completing a roof replacement at Nine Mile Marathon Parkway and restarting splash pad work now that the county fair has concluded. The committee heard a tree-management update from Jamie and the city forester. Jamie said several trees near City Hall have white paint marks indicating they will be removed; the forester plans to replace salt-damaged trees with salt-tolerant species. She said earlier warranty replacements have been completed and that a fall planting of about 235 trees is planned for October. Jamie also described the city's private ash-removal assistance program and encouraged homeowners who meet income requirements to apply: "We still have quite a bit of funding and availability left for that," she said. Committee members praised outreach by the city forester, who conducted neighborhood presentations about urban forestry and Emerald Ash Borer response. The parks department will publicize the skatepark opening, donor recognition and continued tree-planting and private ash-removal opportunities through its usual channels.