WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Marathon County Parks Commission and Environmental Resources Committee have approved a concept and feasibility study for a new county-run ice arena to replace the current rink in Marathon Park.
Assistant Director of Operations for the Parks Department Andrew Sims says the current facility is showing its age. “We have two sloped roofs that pitch into the middle and a flat roof. That has caused repeated issues which have damaged locker rooms and the lobby. We have a compressor system that, I believe, was purchased in 1974 as used from Eagle River. It’s old,” said Sims
On top of that, the current location is not part of the Marathon Park master plan. Plans call for the county to relocate the Highway Department garage nearby, which could make room for the new facility at West Street and S 17th Ave. “There is also the former cold storage site that is county-owned to the east of the Highway Dept. So we would be looking at [one of those sites] if they were available.”
But before any of those discussions happen, the County Finance Committee and full County Board would need to approve the funding for the study.
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If approved the study would be conducted through JGL Architects for $32,500. The county parks department has committed $10,500 to the project, Marathon County Youth Hockey plans to chip in $5,000, and the Wausau Board of Education will consider giving another $5,000. The County Board will be asked to consider adding $12,000 to the study during an upcoming meeting, possibly from the county’s allotment of ARPA funds.
Sims says JGL would then hold discussions with those stakeholders to determine their needs and wants in a new facility. According to JGL’s proposal, they are ready to assign someone to the project and could begin immediately.
