Aquatics Center will get price bump; zoo will get new playground

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – It might be cold, but the city government is already looking ahead to next summer.

The Wisconsin Rapids Parks and Recreation Commission signed off Tuesday night on the slight increase to prices at the Witter Park Aquatic Center.

They also got an update on the new playground equipment installation happening at the City Zoo.

Witter Park Aquatic Center

The Aquatic Center opened in 2020. This is the first time admission is getting a bump. Dawn Desorcy, Recreation Supervisor for the city, brought the proposal to the commission.

“I hope it’s going to be ok,” said Desorcy. “We haven’t raised our prices since we opened.”

Rates will go up by a dollar and will cost $8 for a day pass. Residents and non-residents will pay the same price. The resident punch card pass for five entries will increase by $5 dollars for a total of $25. Guests will only need proof of residency for the resident punch pass and for season passes.

Hours are changing at the waterpark

Hours are changing to be more straightforward. The waterpark will be open 12-6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 12-7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Desorcy says the goal was to streamline hours.

“There was some confusion with it because we had three different hours for the days, so I think now it’ll be a little bit more clear,” says Desorcy.

The aquatic center will re-open in early June, depending on the weather.

New playground is coming to the zoo

New playground equipment is coming to the Wisconsin Rapids Zoo thanks to a grant to replace the old equipment from 1995. Parks and Recreation and Building Superintendent Jake Klingforth said they’re making progress on the installation. Crews should be able to start on the new equipment next week.

“I am hoping it’ll be installed by middle of November, weather dependent,” says Klingforth.

Once the equipment is in place, it might not be open to the public right away. Klingforth said that may have to wait until spring and warmer weather to finish installing the base. He says the old playground equipment was auctioned off on Wisconsin Surplus to a school in Oshkosh.