with moms and dads taking their kids there to
hang out.”
Custom-Designed for Altoona
The railroading theme is present throughout
the park. The splashpad is framed by a stone
seating wall that picks up on the stone of the
railroad as well as the prairie-type design of the
park. Metal “trees” in the plaza are made from
railroad rails. Crosswalks use pavers to mimic
the look of rails and ties.
“River Prairie is uniquely designed for Altoona,”
said Chris Silewski, Ayres’ landscape architect
on the project. “There is no other place like it –
nothing is boilerplate.”
The design incorporates appropriately scaled
lawn spaces as opposed to one large “sea” of
lawn. The three main lawn spaces are separated
but connected by pedestrian-friendly spaces
along the perimeter. Paths go through the park
and along its edge, allowing visitors to interact
with the plantings while offering a natural, easy-
to-maintain separation between the lawn and
planting beds.
The four-seasons plaza features flexible hard-
surface space, suitable for a farmers market,
vendor/product stands, art shows, and
more. All the tables and chairs in the plaza
are unanchored and can be easily moved by
anyone. The idea is to encourage people to use
the space.
Park design elements tend to be natural
stone and wood. Landscaping throughout
the park is lush and full, with plant varieties
selected to provide three-season color and
also to look good when dormant. It’s also
sustainable, incorporating perennials that
need little maintenance and that choke out
weeds. Existing trees were preserved wherever
possible to provide immediate shade and
character. The natural beauty makes the
park a magnet for weddings; 54 receptions
are scheduled at the event center in 2019,
with many of the ceremonies planned for the
outdoor park venues.
The park provides public access to the Eau
Claire River that borders the site and includes
a parking lot that serves the boat launch area.
This is one of the only locations to access the
Eau Claire River between the Lake Altoona Dam
and the Eau Claire/Chippewa River confluence
in downtown Eau Claire. A multi-use trail circles
the quadrant and will eventually link to all four
quadrants.
QUICK WORK KEEPS TRAFFIC MOVING
As River Prairie took shape, it became
apparent that the access road from the USH
53 bypass had not been constructed to handle
the traffic coming to River Prairie as well
as the other quadrants in the interchange.
The City of Altoona hired Ayres to design
additional turning lanes and traffic signals on
River Prairie Drive, and Ayres also worked with
the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
to modify the ramps from the bypass.
Three of the four ramps on the River Prairie/
USH 53 interchange were improved, and two
were widened to accommodate dual left-turn
lanes – a nine-month design and construction
6│ TRENDS
achievement that would normally take two
years. Signal lights were added at the two
entrances to the Woodman’s store, and all
signals at the ramps and along River Prairie
Drive are interconnected to work smoothly
and efficiently.
“We had some very quick turnaround times,”
City Administrator Michael Golat said. “Ayres
stepped up and got those done in a very
professional manner. They really pulled the
rabbit out of their hat in terms of some of the
deadlines they had to meet early on.”