Landscape Architect Articles

Something for Everyone at Riverlife Park 10-19-20 | Feature

Something for Everyone at Riverlife Park

Riverlife Park in Wausau, Wisconsin
by Todd Wichman and Eric Lembke

Stantec's team of urban planners, landscape architects, engineers, and scientists worked with the City of Wausau, WI, to transform a nearly half-mile brownfield redevelopment along the Wisconsin River shoreline into a regional recreation and entertainment waterfront destination. All amenities at Riverlife Park provide great river views and enhance the experience for bikers, walkers, and everyday travelers throughout the park and trail.

At the peak of the structures are the Sky Cabins which challenge the children and allow them to feel the achievement and self-confidence of being at the top and overlooking the entire area. The cabin is also a meeting point and a hide-away in which imaginative play takes place. The Sky Cabin forms an entrance to the Sky Walk system, 13' above the ground, branching out in different directions with a 10' tall tube slide located at the end of the Sky Cabin.

The adult fitness area and play equipment from Landscape Structures under Bridge Street was placed there with the goal of providing a separated, yet close (in proximity) area for the adults. This section contains several features designed to challenge and improve the physical fitness of their users. The area near the bridge was included in the overall playground to take advantage of what would normally be a very underutilized space with GameTime's challenge course being implemented in the same area. Lighting was added under the bridge to make these attractions and features more inviting.

The colors and patterns of DuraPlay's safety surfacing were designed to provide a flowing pattern, taking cues from the river immediately adjacent to the playground. The blue sections are meant to be the primary pathways and lead one's eye through the playground while the green areas place emphasis on key playground equipment pieces with larger color block segments directly under the equipment. The curvilinear design ties them all together for a unified look.

The design team made sure that all major play types of playground elements were represented, including spinning, sliding, climbing, rocking, imaginative/role play, balance, and more. The play structures are made with HDPE plastic, galvanized steel, painted steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and marine grade ropes with steel core. These materials were carefully selected for functionality, durability, and vandal resistance.

An additional feature of Riverlife Park is a concession building located on the other side of the playground where families and friends can grab refreshments at the new Briq's Soft Serve.

The whole playground, including the equipment, has lighting integrated into the design for a very unique experience at dusk. Total area of the rubber surfacing on the playground is 11,118 square feet with the main playground stretching 7,038 square feet, the adult fitness and play area under Bridge Street bridge accounting for 4,080 square feet, and the challenge course having 2,145 square feet of synthetic turf.

Riverlife Park includes natural stone boulders and placed stone along the riverbanks that match stone veneers used on seat walls, buildings, benches, and picnic tables throughout, allowing visitors a chance to relax and take in the picturesque view of the revitalized riverfront.

The carefully designed Octa Net challenges children to explore the space by using their muscles for a climb to the top, with the reward of the Sky Cabin and thrilling slide down. The variety of routes to take up and around the Octa Net was designed to help children develop their logical thinking skills in conjunction with their physical skills. The large capacity climbing net provides opportunities for children to socialize and strengthen relationships through play. The Sky Walk and Sky Cabin stand at 13' and 16' tall respectively while the slide entry stretches for 103'.

The young kid equipment was placed around the edges of the playground within their own safe zones so that they can be part of the bigger kid play, connecting visually in the same area. To ensure safety, the entire park incorporates colorful poured-in-place rubber surfacing that provides cushioning and consistent fall protection throughout. The material was selected to make the surface universally accessible and provide for lower maintenance for the playground. The City of Wausau has utilized this type of playground surfacing in other parks because of its aesthetics and durability.

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Project Background
Along the Wisconsin River, next to the Bridge Street bridge in Wausau, Wisconsin, lies Riverlife Park-a destination park and playground that includes one of the largest play structures in the United States.

The playground was designed as part of the Wausau Riverfront Development. Stantec's team of urban planners, landscape architects, engineers, and scientists worked with the City of Wausau to transform a nearly half-mile brownfield redevelopment along the Wisconsin River shoreline into a regional recreation and entertainment waterfront destination. The riverfront development is the culmination of more than 30 years of dedication to land assembly and funding from the Wausau mayors and council, supported by their Steering Committee and many generous donors.

The first phase of the project provided the framework for this development that included an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) publicly accessible pedestrian bridge, boat docks, kayak launches, a wharf, multi-use trail system, landscaping amenities, and riverbank restoration. The project's first phase started in 2016 and was completed in the fall of 2018.

Riverlife Park was part of the final phase of the development, which began construction in early 2018 and was finished in June 2019. With a project cost of approximately $4.5 million, which includes the playground, concessions building, and related site work, the playground features state-of-the-art equipment for children and adults alike.

Playground Features
Less than five other playgrounds like this exist in the US.

The children's playground section includes several modern, fun takes on playground classics. A sky walk with three sky cabins takes center stage giving kids a birds-eye view of the park and the riverfront. Kids can enter the sky walk from the climbing nets below each of the sky cabins and get back down using the 10-foot-tall tube slide. Additional climbing nets and boulders are also found throughout the park along with swings and spinners.

To ensure safety, the entire park incorporates DuraPlay's colorful poured-in-place rubber surface that provides cushioning and consistent fall protection throughout. The EPDM color layer was not mixed with any black, which helped achieve the vibrant colors on the playground. The rubber surface also makes the park universally accessible for all visitors, meeting the standards of the ADA.

The park includes a feature that is particularly unique - a timed Challenge Course by Playcore's GameTime designed for kids 13 and older. Kids can race against a clock through ninja-inspired obstacles to try to beat their friends' times or set their own personal best. The Pro 3000 course's obstacles include ninja steps, floating boards, half rounds, a traverse wall, sway steps, and agility trainers. If the summer heat gets too intense, the interactive water fountain of "jumping jets" near the concessions building gives kids a fun way to cool off.

Younger kids, ages 2-5, can enjoy the smaller play equipment, such as a toddler wave and spinners, hoppers, spica, speeder, and stinger. The Stantec design team also added different sized climbing rocks for additional challenges for kids. The design detail places play elements for younger kids around the outside of the big kid elements for a totally seamless and integrated play experience for all ages. Younger kids can watch their older siblings traverse the sky walk while having fun at the same time! Parents can enjoy watching their children play by sitting on strategically placed benches and tables and chairs, complete with shade umbrellas to provide relief during the summer.

The playground equipment was installed with high-play value, uncompromised safety, unique innovation, and long-lasting quality. The attention to detail during the installation was exceptional, resulting in a well-executed and kid-friendly play environment.

Fun for the whole family
Kids aren't the only ones who can enjoy a fun day at the playground. Under the shade of the Bridge Street bridge, adults can get a workout in at the outdoor fitness area, which includes several cardio and static weight machines.

After a long day of playing, families and friends can grab refreshments at the concession building that is home to a new Briq's Soft Serve-a local, family-owned ice cream chain.

In addition to the exciting activities and playground equipment, Riverlife Park also includes several unique planting areas with attractive landscaping and plant material varieties. A heavy use of natural stone boulders and placed stone along the riverbanks match the stone veneers used on seat walls, buildings, benches, and picnic tables throughout, allowing visitors a chance to relax and take in the picturesque view of the revitalized riverfront. All amenities provide great river views and enhance the experience for bikers, walkers, and everyday travelers through the park and trail. The park is also transformed at twilight and at night by the lighting design, which includes special nautical themed pedestrian lights and bollards, as well as special effect lighting in pedestrian gathering spaces that include LED strip lighting and color changing LED fixtures on the bridge.

Impact on the community
Riverlife Park and the Wausau Riverfront Development was designed to bring together people of all ages and abilities to a regional waterfront destination. Since the playground opened in
2019, the City of Wausau has already seen a positive increase in economic impact from guests traveling to the city to experience the park.

Through Stantec's work with the city and construction partners, the project team was able to transform a brownfield site into a family destination that the community will be able to enjoy for years to come.

The entire development has won several awards, including a National Public Works Project of the Year - Small Cities/Rural Communities Award, a National Brownfield Renewal Economic Impact Award, a Professional Design Merit Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects, and Public Works Project of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the APWA.

Additional improvements are planned along the trail network, including a new trailhead and river overlook south of Riverlife Park in downtown Wausau.

As seen in LASN magazine, October 2020.