Pickleball ribbon cutting, softball field rebuild and zoo growth among Marshfield parks updates

The Marshfield Park, Recreation and Forestry Committee heard multiple operational updates Wednesday, including a pickleball court ribbon cutting, a planned reconfiguration of Green Park softball fields, increased zoo programming and tours, and cemetery activity and maintenance work.

“We had the ribbon cutting. Mayor was there. John was there. Ben was there,” Justin, parks department staff, said of the pickleball opening and community turnout. Committee members also noted significant event activity: 95 teams participated in a recent pickleball tournament, and the Dairyfest weekend included multiple athletic and special events.

Justin described the Green Park softball project awarded to Marwood: the outfield will be reduced from about a 285-foot layout to a roughly 200-foot field to serve primarily as a fast-pitch facility with new dugouts, backstop and infield irrigation; the project schedule aims for completion around October. Justin said the project will remove the tall lights because of operating cost concerns.

Zoo staff and partners reported increased educational programming and tours this spring, with one staff member noting approximately 25 tours in three weeks; Wild Wednesdays and other summer programs are scheduled. Justin and other staff said the Wildwood Zoological Society collects on-site donations and has agreed to pursue more aggressive fundraising; the committee learned an endowment discussion was advanced at a foundation meeting the night before. Staff also said another animal is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Cemetery staff reported 23 burials between April and May, school cemetery tours on May 23, volunteer placement of flags on May 24, and successful Memorial Day observances May 26. Cemetery crews completed headstone placement and parking-lot concrete work and finished a roof replacement project.

Other operational items mentioned: repairs and concrete work at fairgrounds press box; continued playground safety inspections; tree planting (71 trees planted via a DNR grant on several city streets and parks); and a water leak troubleshooting plan that will temporarily close a city building next week to isolate and find an underground line believed to be leaking.

No committee motions were made. Several committee members praised volunteer and stakeholder groups that led the pickleball effort and helped paint park shelters. Staff indicated ongoing collaboration with civic groups, the zoological society and Visit Marshfield to pursue donations, sponsorships and potential room-tax allocations to offset operating costs.