Creating Nothing Out of Something
Wausau developers yearn to dump concrete over every inch of the city’s soil. Many Wausau residents spoke out against such abomination at the latest Westside Master Plan meeting.
Marathon Park is the next target of the evil concrete-pouring developers. They hope to eliminate trees, grass and recreation areas, and mix the remnants into a steamy, black witch’s cauldron. Developers can bank on the fact that the final stew will plug plenty of green paper into their already fat pockets.
In our capitalist economy, the money stacker’s motive is not so surprising. The rich get richer, while the poor acquire even more places to spend their dwindling payroll checks. Mother Nature is the only source of wealth distributed to all living things on Earth–equally. With this in mind, the developers are attempting to force Wausau’s poor to be poorer than ever.
Marathon Park, acquired by the Marathon County Agricultural Society in 1867, has a deep-seated history in north central Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Valley Fair, second largest in the state, has been celebrated at Marathon Park since 1868.
The park offers a wide variety of recreation for kids and adults. Playgrounds, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and tennis courts are all healthy, vital members of a community. The developers know this, and probably would be happy to fence in some courts between the Dudley buildings.
In addition, Wausau’s largest green patch is home to two indoor ice skating rinks. The Wausau Curling Club, Timberline Figure Skating Club, and Wausau Area Hockey Association each have thrived in this location for decades. The developers know this, and would like to let you know they already have a solution for the loss of these rinks. They have provided a place for a single outdoor rink at Wausau’s 400 block. Coincidentally, future satellite pictures may show this area to be the city’s new, largest green patch.
Citizens relish the park for its host of other community events and activities. Other examples are Art in the Park, the Jaycee’s annual 4th of July festival, live concerts in the grandstand, and countless other functions.
The developers seem to think our community is the next metropolis. However, most big-city inhabitants cherish their large parks, like New York City’s Central Park.
For some reason, it is necessary for the few rich folks to increase their wealth exponentially. But, acquiring that green paper should never come at the expense of the working class’s community resources.
That, Mr. Money Stacker, would be very poor.
Dino Corvino said:
Kevin,
Thanks for the post. Do you have any specifics about any proposed developments for Marathon Park? For example have any of the big developers like Ghidorzi etc, expressed interest in such a thing?
I think your correct in ringing the bell of trouble, but you implicate the Dudley’s in this, and I do not think that they have their eyes on the park? Or even a second Dudley tower at this time.
But I would love to hear what you know.
October 27th, 2007 at 11:26 pm #
Jim Rosenberg said:
“Marathon Park is the next target of the evil concrete-pouring developers. They hope to eliminate trees, grass and recreation areas, and mix the remnants into a steamy, black witch’s cauldron.”
* * *
The thing about good fiction writing is that it has to be believable.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:05 am #
erik said:
I’d have to echo a lot of the other comments here. Maybe I’m just not up on current events in Wausau, but what’s the proposal here?
Too often I hear alarmist attitudes from Wausauians (Wausaunites?) against progress, change and development that could make Wausau into a town actually worth writing home about just because it’s new, shiney and different. Sometimes a dose of change is a good thing. It’s case by case to be certain, but this rant appears to be just more chicken little raving about a big, bad boogeyman that could actually be the key to an expanded PAC at UWMC, a new concert venue that could actually attract touring acts, or a host of other ideas that actually make better our city.
Not all development is a bad thing.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:47 am #
tommichlig said:
I think the betterment of Wausau has more to do with attitudes than buildings and development projects. New and shiny doesn’t always mean better, especially when the new and shiny areas are largely void of people. Downtown is kinda new and shiny, but still sleepy, unless there’s an organized event. A bit sad.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:59 pm #
wahiscan said:
I’ve lived on Stewart Avenue for 14 years and I would hate to see any of the park taken away. I use it almost every day and the paths that go along the boundary with the University.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:44 pm #
Jim Rosenberg said:
I think that there is currently a “hands off” policy relating to Marathon Park with regard to siting UWMC facilities (along with any other non-park facilities) at this time and probably for the foreseeable future. The planning process was set up to deal with issues that were brought into sharper focus when the park was listed as one of three alternates for siting the new building that is planned. It is a more comprehensive approach than simply trying to site a building and instead deals with UWMC facilities, the Highway Department facilities and other elements of that neighborhood looking forward. While it can be argued that the effort is overdue and I would agree with that, the fact is that it is underway now and it’s a good idea.
October 29th, 2007 at 5:21 pm #
velcroboy said:
I agree that any sort of development that removes trees or other green space in the park would be a travesty. Im not sure but they seem like the oldest or at least tallest trees in town. thats something to be proud about. Where is all of wausau’s green space going? we’ve recently sold one of our parks to development (grand Ave) but when was the last time a new park has been established. Most large cities are trying to buy and accumulate much needed green space, however, it seems that wausau is in bigger better development mode and nobody is taking the time to realize how crucial these places are going to be when we are a large metropolitan city.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:04 pm #
erik said:
I think it’s a combination of both, Tom. While certainly the downtown lacks in terms of hustle and bustle one might see in the Historic 3rd Ward or over by Lakeshore Drive, there’s still a lot going on down there. Downtown Grocery is my food mart, Janke’s is my bookstore, Studio E houses my favorite hair stylist Andrea, Innersleeve sells me my new CDs, etc. I don’t know what everyone else is doing, but for me, it’s nice to be able to walk to all my shopping :)
But all the same, one can have all the gumption in the world to bring around Bright Eyes or Black Rebel Motorcycle club, but if all you’ve got is a corner in a bar like Intermission, you can’t bring them in to play. Sarah Rudolph and Brad Schmicker are excellent directors with wide vision and ideas for productions at UWMC. But they are forced to work out of a theater with absolutely no fly space or wings.
We’ve got a lot of big minded folks out here in Wausau with no venue to feed their passions just as much as we have a lot of great places to live, work and play with no takers.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:08 pm #
tommichlig said:
You do make good points, Erik, regarding good ideas with lack of outlets. Development is essential in that regard.
I won’t budge on downtown, though. I try to support it as much as I can, but it always seems a bit quiet down there. Quiet and quaint is good, don’t get me wrong. It’s when you hear all the “big city feel” talk and words like “urban” that make me queasy ;)
OK, I admit, I like hustle and bustle as a measure of how much is going on :)
October 29th, 2007 at 7:33 pm #
Jim Rosenberg said:
Downtown Wausau is neither Hong Kong nor Hooterville. It is a work in progress. The momentum has been positive over the past 10 years, but there is also a great deal of unrealized potential, too. We’re better off now than we were a decade ago and that we can be much better in 10 years than we are at the moment. I agree that it’s not all about buildings, but when you look at some of what has been going on, that has been recognized, too.
When was the last time a new park was established? Well, how about the fact that in 1998, the 400 block was filled with mostly vacant, decaying buildings instead of summer events like concerts on the square, chalkfest, the balloon rally, the Thursday farmers market and various other events? And look at what has happened in that immediate area since that time and continues to happen in downtown. There are many smaller cities across the midwest that haven’t been nearly as successful.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:17 pm #
tommichlig said:
I agree all the way around, Jim. My previous comments were more about the disconnect between the “burgeoning metropolis” talk I sometimes hear/read and the reality of the situation: Wausau is a small and growing town with lots going for it, which is great.
Marathon Park’s considerable arbor make it a much different animal than the 400 Block, which is more like a community “backyard”. That being said, I do appreciate how many events take place there. But it’s easy to see why some are very sensitive to anything that could encroach upon Marathon Park (though it seems there’s been some questionable info circulated about just what’s going on)…
October 30th, 2007 at 6:06 am #
Marcus Nelson said:
This has really turned into a constructive conversation - thank you Jim for elaborating a bit on Wausau’s progress downtown.
I agree that much has been done, but there is so much more potential. Take for instance the northern side of downtown. There is so much opportunity to develop this space. Has anyone seen the master plan for this area?
October 30th, 2007 at 11:06 am #
Kari Rasmussen said:
Schreiber/Anderson out of Madison will be presenting the plan at the City Council meeting on November 27th. Although I have only seen the most preliminary of plans, I am excited that this side of town will be receiving attention. (This is the same firm that did the Northside plan a few years ago, which included the Franklin Elementary School project)
I would encourage community members to attend this meeting. City Hall - November 27th at 7:00pm.
October 30th, 2007 at 12:50 pm #
Andy Laub said:
Kari, thanks for that bit of info! I’m excited to see what their plans for that area are, as I think they did great work on Franklin.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:43 pm #
honest said:
Just a few random thoughts mostly off subject….
I think that since Dudley built his tower, that the lot has more green space on it than when it was just an empty gravel lot.
Where does the railroad line that run behind marathon park go?
Why hasn’t the space between the Wausau Mall, and Oak Island been converted to residential? It seems like an ideal location for some medium density residential projects.
Should UWMC become a 4 year college? What impact could that have on the community as far as arts, nightlife, jobs, and growth for the growing metro? I think the land bounded by 6th ave, Garfield Ave, and the railroad tracks would make for a nice addition to the campus, as well as the eventual purchase of the block between 6th Ave, and 7th Ave just south of Stewart ave.
Wausau needs a beach at oak island.
Can something be done about the Lake Wausau ecosystem, the lake seems to be getting greener(in a gross sort of way) each year.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:27 am #
Barry Liss said:
When poverty sets in society inevitably auctions off its sacred sites and symbols. Only a fit, adaptable, highly intelligent population has the privilege of defending its common spaces.
Barry
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 am #
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November 8th, 2007 at 6:51 pm #