SWISH. Menomonie's 90-plus-acre park, Wakanda Park, is home to a waterpark, playground, multiple pickleball and basketball courts, even local organizations like the Dunn County Historical Society. Thanks to years-long efforts, it now has over $375,000 worth of upgrades.

While not the largest park in Menomonie – that title goes to Lake Menomin Park, with about 150 acres – Wakanda Park is home to the most amenities. The Menomonie Lions Club Game Park; Dunn County Historical Society and Rassbach Museum; park pavilion and playground; boat launch; a waterpark and more are all part of its 90-plus acre stretch.

As of this summer, with an official reopening in June, Wakanda Park now hosts updated amenities and even more additions. Among those are new batting cages (bringing the former three hitting bays up to a total 13, plus seven soft toss sections), improved pickleball and basketball courts, plus new hoops.

A years-long process with a roughly $378,000 price-tag, the community space required the love and support of its neighbors to reach fruition.

The overall project saw over $240,000 invested by the City through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and its general fund, as well as a $32,000 donation by the Menomonie Pickleball Club; nearly $14,000 from the Menomonie Hoops Club and another $90,000 from the Menomonie Baseball Association.

While those updates were slated to be formally unveiled last fall, finicky Wisconsin weather moved that celebration up to this summer. It was worth that wait.

“There are over 60 teams that utilize the ballfields throughout the year,” Kimberly McKay, the City recreation program supervisor said.

Wakanda Park has two mini ballfields and now – for the first time in its history – several soft toss pitches alongside 13 hitting bays.

McKay noted over 350 kids participate in the T-ball, pitch ball and softball offerings alone.

That number doesn't include the many more groups – from T-ball to adult leagues, local school teams and others – that utilize the park.

Nonprofit youth sports organizations, Menomonie schools teams and other groups bring in hundreds more youths too, including for large weekend tournaments that welcome out-of-town teams as well.

Wakanda Park is just one of the many public parks and spaces the Menomonie Parks & Recreation Departments are charged with caring for. Today, there are six full-time staff and more than 100 part-time and seasonal employees throughout the year, to attend to that charge.

Before the summer’s out, take a dip in the waterpark and don’t miss out on the new and improved amenities at Wakanda Park. (But if you do, don’t worry, these additions are going to be around for a very long time, thanks to community investment.)

The Menomonie Lions Game Park has been an attraction within Wakanda Park for years, home to a number of animals including elk and bison.

Wakanda Waterpark is really an aquatic playground. Over 10,000 square feet of pool, a handful of water slides, on-site playground and more cater to littles and families.

View the new site map of Wakanda Park (909 Pine Ave. E, Menomonie) and learn more online at www.menomonie-wi.gov/facilities/facility/details/wakandapark-28. Keep up with the City of Menomonie's Parks & Recreation Departments on Facebook.