Phoenix Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) facts for kids

Phoenix Park is a cool public space in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It's located right where the Chippewa River and the Eau Claire River meet. This park used to be a "brownfield site," which means it was an old industrial area that needed to be cleaned up.

The park covers about 9 acres and has almost half a mile of riverfront. It's the starting point for the Chippewa River State Trail, a great place for biking and walking. Phoenix Park also has a special walking labyrinth, a natural outdoor stage (called an amphitheater), and it's home to Eau Claire's farmer's market all year round. These features make it a popular spot for people to gather, especially in the summer when there are often concerts. The City of Eau Claire owns and manages the park.

A Park with a Past: Phoenix Park's History

Phoenix Park was finished in 2005. It's named after the old Phoenix Steel Company, which used to be on this land since 1875. The company left the site in 1971. After that, the buildings were used for storage for a while.

Turning a Brownfield Green: Park Development

In 1981, the City of Eau Claire took over the land. The city wanted to clean up the area because it was an old, unused industrial site. Even though the old factory buildings were listed as historic in 1983, they were taken down in 1985 as part of the city's plan.

Cleaning up the land was a big job. In 1994, the city worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to remove pollution from the soil. This pollution was from almost a century of factory work. Another part of the brownfield, near the Eau Claire River, was cleaned up in 2002.

The city bought the land with help from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. This is a special fund in Wisconsin that helps protect nature, create fun places, and develop riverfronts. The money to build the park came from a mix of federal funds and a local city program called Tax Incremental District #8. This program helps improve downtown areas.