Planning commission approves River Edge Trail sculpture funded by Alexander foundations

The City of Wausau Planning Commission on Tuesday approved siting a donor-funded bronze sculpture on the River Edge Trail and will forward the recommendation to City Council.

The Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee both recommended approval; Commissioner Brueggemann moved the planning commission motion and Commissioner Watson seconded it. Commissioners voted in favor; no opposed votes were recorded among those present. The transcript records that Commissioner Larson had not been present for the earlier vote and his vote was not logged.

Brad, a planning staff member, said the Walter Alexander Foundation and the Judd S. Alexander Foundation will fund the sculpture and the base in full. The foundations have requested that the city relocate existing boulders on the site and run electricity to a spotlight at the sculpture’s base; staff said the city would discuss a written agreement with the foundations covering those elements.

Staff described the sculpture as bronze, similar in maintenance needs to an existing kayaker sculpture on Washington Street. Maintenance is expected to be limited to an annual or biennial washing and waxing; staff estimated cleaning costs could range from a few hundred dollars to about $1,000 per cleaning if contracted out, and said the first cleaning likely would not be needed for a year or more after installation.

If approvals proceed, the sculptor expects to fabricate the piece within about 11 months and deliver it to Wausau for installation. The Planning Commission’s approval advances the project to City Council for final action and for a written agreement to be completed between the city and the sponsoring foundations.