South Park Sidewalk 01

Waupaca County Post

March 17, 2005

Grant to fund new sidewalk in South Park

The River Ridge Trail received a $7,000 Opportunity Fund grant from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

The River Ridge Trail committee will use the grant to build a 5-foot-wide, 500-foot-long sidewalk, extending from the lower level shelter at South Park to the public swimming beach along he east shore of Shadow Lake.

This sidewalk will meet American with Disabilities Act specifications and allow disabled people easy access to the beach area.

The shelter, bathrooms and public fishing pier are presently fully ADA accessible from this level.

The swimming beach is presently accessed either by a steep ramp from the upper level of South Park or by crossing the grassy shoreline where building the trail is proposed.

Both access routes are difficult for people with strollers or wheelchairs to traverse. The elderly and people whose mobility is challenged also find access to the beach area difficult.

The city of Waupaca Parks and Recreation Department will be overseeing and coordinating the construction of the sidewalk and will provide a wheelchair accessible picnic table in the beach area.

Work on this project will begin this May and be completed by July, providing ADA accessibility to the beach during this summer’s peak months.

The total cost for this project is estimated to be $10,000. Those who want to donate to the project or who want to volunteer to help with construction may contact Russ Montgomery at (715)258-4435.