29-05-2025
Readers ask: When will the splash pad reopen at Marathon Park in Wausau? What we know.
WAUSAU − Those looking to cool off in spraying waters and fountains will have to wait at least two months before Marathon Park's splash pad returns.
Wausau and Marathon County's shared Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is currently seeking donations to rebuild its 8,000-square-foot splash pad at Marathon Junction located within Marathon Park.
The splash pad is the largest in the state, according to builders the department has contacted, Jamie Polley, parks, recreation, and forestry director, told a Wausau Daily Herald reporter. The department has not yet chosen a design or builder for the project.
About two-thirds of the summer fun facility's $750,000 design and construction cost has been committed to the project from various sources. Funds committed so far include a $50,000 donation from the B.A. and Esther Greenheck Foundation, a $130,000 Community Development Block Grant and county capital project funds, Polley said.
The Marathon Park splash pad was closed in 2023 due to a water pressure issue that could not be identified or resolved, according to a Facebook post made by the department in July 2024. The 20-year-old splash pad was demolished in spring 2025, and the department hopes to have its replacement built in August and give park visitors a few weeks to enjoy it before shutting down for the winter months, Polley said.
A grand opening for the facility will be planned for 2026, Polley said.
Individuals or organizations interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the project can contact the parks, recreation, and forestry department at 715-261-1550.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: When will the splash pad reopen at Marathon Park in Wausau?
