George’s Riverside Park is the result of a multi-year project to repurpose a city block which had been used as a parking lot since 1980. The Mead Witter Foundation, Inc., purchased the property in 2015, and conceived and constructed the park for the benefit of the community.
Wisconsin Rapids has long been known for its riverside greenspaces thanks to the vision and relentless effort of former generations who settled here. It was that rich history of civic-minded people who have lived here who inspired this project
The Mead Witter Foundation selected Saiki Design, Inc., a Madison landscape design firm, to develop the park layout. Saiki Design was made aware of the recommendations by the famous landscape designer Warren H. Manning (who also worked on the designs of the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, and the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC). Manning, who was invited to our community in the early 1900s, proposed a design centered on the Wisconsin River. The essence of that century-old endeavor was realized in the design of George’s Riverside Park.
The park’s most prominent feature is a stone bridge which creates a long view down the Wisconsin River. The new bridge sits in the center of the park, reflective in design of a bridge which once provided the entryway to the offices of Consolidated Water Power & Paper Company only a block away and a century ago. The new bridge features stonework using area rock similar to the riverwalls found on both banks of the river running through downtown in addition to providing a significant river view, the forty-foot-long concrete and stone bridge spans the park’s bioswale, which collects and filters rainwater runoff.
George’s Riverside Park is designed specifically for pedestrians, primarily for serenity and to enjoy the river views, but purposely embeds educational and creative opportunities, providing enjoyment and learning opportunities for users of every age. The park contains nearly 3,500 plants and trees of diverse species each featuring an interactive identification system which will allow users to scan a QR code to learn more about the plants and tree species. There are also musical instruments placed along the pathways.
The creation of George’s Riverside Park involved the efforts of roughly 50 local individuals representing 12 local companies in various trades.