WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke is putting out the call for anyone who wants to see a downtown dog park to come to life, encouraging them to serve on a special committee the city is putting together.
The committee will be assembled this winter with the goal of finding realistic funding options to make the park happen. Mielke says the city is still working on ways to kick in some cash for the project, but it's still likely that private funding will be needed. "It's wasn't a priority during the CIP rankings, it kind of placed at the bottom," he said. "I was kind of bumed out about it myself," the Mayor added, saying he's a fan of dogs and thinks the project would be a worthwhile quality-of-life investment for the city.
City leaders have been discussing the idea of putting a park in a two-acre parcel of land near the downtown post office for nearly a year. The proposal calls for different agility course equipment to be installed along with a sprinkler system. Fencing and parking areas along with water fountains for the dogs would also need to be installed.
Mielke notes that other communities have funded their projects largely on private donations. He would like to see the city contribute more, but he's already working with a tight budget to begin with. "There are bigger priorities. As much as we would all love a dog park here, we have other things we have to take care of. Roads, streets, pipes, replacement of buildings, etc."
Should the downtown location go over well, some feel there could be an immediate interest for another park on the west side.
Anyone interested in serving on the committee can contact city hall at 715-261-6800 by Wednesday, November 21st to have their name put into consideration. Mielke says they're also hoping to have representation from the group Wausdogs, which has been leading the grassroots effort for the park.
"There's enough interest, buzz if you will as far as 'this is something we'd really like,' we'll see what happens," Mielke said any action on the park likely wouldn't happen until 2020.
Other topics Mielke discussed with WSAU's Mike Leischner this week include: (Timestamped)
Start of video- finalizing the city budget
2:30- Working with new Governor Tony Evers on transportation funding
6:00- Recommendation of Gorman and Company to take over the riverlife development.
10:50- Potential for a dog park in Wausau
13:45- Happy Thanksgiving Wausau!
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