SLIDE ON BY. Phelan Park's new playground is officially open to the public as of June 19.

Menomonie’s Phelan Park received one heck of a makeover just ahead of Fourth of July celebrations thanks to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, collaboration between City of Menomonie staff, the Recreation Advisory Committee, and over 360 local elementary students. 

An official ribbon cutting held on June 19 unveiled the project – boasting nine slides, a swing set with varied seating options, plenty of climbable features, ramps, and more – which has since received “overwhelmingly positive reviews from children and families,” Director of Public Works, David Schofield, said.

Menomonie's 2023 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) noted the need for updated playground equipment in Phelan Park, among other things, and ultimately allocated roughly $300,000 from ARPA funding toward the Phelan Park project in January 2024.

The project aimed to create handicap-accessible play structures, including lots of slides and, of course, fun for all. “Three proposals (from prospective contractors) were received in early October 2024. City Staff reviewed the proposals and scored all categories except for the “fun” category,” Schofield explained.

The latter category scoring was left up to students at Oaklawn Elementary, River Heights Elementary, and Wakanda Elementary. City staff attended Parent-Teacher Conferences at the elementary schools, displaying each proposal’s rendering and invited students to place a sticker on which looked “most fun,” Schofield said. 363 votes were collected.

Of the three proposals – pictured below, submitted by Northland Recreation (Woodbury, Minn.); Lee Recreation (Cambridge, Wisc.); and Boland Recreation (Tomah, Wis.) – Northland Recreation’s project was deemed most fun by students, and scored highest among City Staff as well.

Lee Recreation's proposed playground rendering, left, and Boldand Recreation's proposed playground rendering, right. (Submitted images)

Northland Recreation's proposed playground rendering was deemed "most fun" by voting elementary students, and scored highest overall among city staff. (Submitted image)

Construction efforts began in April 2025 and saw the removal of Phelan Park’s former playground – which had not been replaced since the 1990s – installation of safety surfacing, perimeter sidewalk, and restoration of the site’s surround area.

Beyond the brand-new playground, Phelan Park stretches about 97 acres and is also home to a disc golf course, skate park, softball and soccer field, and a rentable picnic shelter. Swing by Phelan Park (1200 21st Ave. E, Menomonie) to check it all out!

Phelan Park is open to the public from 7am-10pm, Monday-Sunday. Learn more about Phelan Park and other City facilities at menomonie-wi.gov.