The Whitewater Park in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin has been hosting paddling enthusiasts for lessons, recreation, and competitions since 1974. In 2016, the nonprofit organization that manages the park developed a 10-year plan to update and enhance the course to improve its pedestrian and handicap access, viewing areas, and water features.
Improvements started in 2017 with the addition of new pathways and landscaping upgrades. The expanded pathway extended the viewing area and improved the accessibility of the site for wheelchairs, strollers, and emergency vehicles.
County Ready Mix supported the improvements by donating 99 cubic yards of ready-mix for the new pathways and landscaping upgrades on the east bank. The inherent strength of ready-mix concrete, along with its unmatched design versatility and customizability, made it an ideal construction material for this heavily trafficked riverside walkway.
In a testament to the durability of ready-mix, the existing ready-mix pathways on the site were still in excellent condition and did not need to be replaced.
The new pathways were constructed with integrally colored ready-mix, which complements the red hues of the existing stained concrete walkway, but provides the benefit of a shorter installation time since coloring takes place offsite during the batching process.
County Ready Mix’s skilled truck drivers overcame many challenges with the riverside installation and completed the project in less than a month. The park now hosts hundreds of paddlers during summer weekends, and organizers look forward to hosting larger competitions in the future.