We are on the move! Big projects are currently in the works, greatly altering the landscape while enhancing Portage as a great place to live, play and work. These projects will better position Portage to attract new residents along with enriching the lives of current citizens.
Community Projects in Portage
Portage Canal
Dredging and cleanup of a nearly three-quarter mile section of the Portage Canal moved ahead with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources providing $4.3 million to cover the cost of the work.
This second phase of canal restoration, from Adams Street to the Canadian Pacific Railroad bridge – a 3,600-foot stretch – hadn’t been dredged in nearly a century. Restoration of this section was completed in October 2021.
The canal, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a navigable waterway, though it hasn’t been used in that capacity since 1951. The first phase of the rehabilitation project was completed in 2007 and is shown left.
Pavilion at Pauquette Park; city park playground upgrades
COMPLETED OCTOBER 2020 – The Portage Service Club Association (PSCA), noted for the successful campaign to bring a Splash Pad to reality, has seen its next goal through – a pavilion at Pauquette Park. The beautiful signature park in Portage, Pauquette Park serves as the photographic setting for many weddings, reunions and graduations.
The pavilion will provide cover from the elements and potentially attract new events, such as plays and small concerts, bringing many families to the community who will stay, shop and eat. The project also incorporates an expansion of the Ice Age Trail and upgrades to the restroom shelter.
New playground equipment has been installed in several parks in recent months, including Pauquette Park. Work is shown during the installation process at right. Collipp-Worden Park not only received a nice upgrade in playground equipment, but also some new basketball courts, including a Dream Court.
The tennis and basketball courts combined with the Frisbee golf course positions Collipp-Worden as one of the top parks when considering the variety of recreational opportunities.
Silver Lake Beach and Sunset Park underwent new playground projects due to a matching grant from the Lenz Charitable Trust to fund $100,000 worth of playground structures at the two parks. Both projects were completed in June 2018.
Boys and Girls Club
Portage has not had a Boys and Girls Club, but that soon could change. A local chapter is working with its parent organization, the Boys and Girls Club of West-Central Wisconsin, hoping to start after-school programming soon, which may include a homework group for students; a program on how to manage your finances; teaching s
tudents how to garden and much, much more!
The Portage club has a need for volunteers to help with fundraising to create a permanent location here. Interested in helping? Email boysandgirlsclubportage@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for future updates on the status of the Boys and Girls Club.
The Portage Family Skate Park
COMPLETED NOVEMBER 2020 – Phase two construction on the Portage Family Skate Park was recently completed, adding 3,000 square feet to the park’s existing 4,178 square feet of ramps and skating area.
The first phase was completed in July 2016 with its concept derived from the sport of curling. The park is located adjacent to the Splash Pad at Goodyear Park.
A memorial tile is a beautiful addition to the Portage Family Skate Park to honor your loved one. Click Here for an application form.
Donations are now being accepted for the third and final construction phase of the project. For more information on the project or to make a donation contact Kyle at 608-697-5960.
Columbia County Fairgrounds
An ambitious plan to reshape the Columbia County Fairgrounds is underway. The multi-phase process includes new lighting and fencing, relocating the softball diamonds, moving existing buildings, and refurbishing the historic grandstands.
The City of Portage just finished construction of a new 300-foot, fenced, adult softball diamond with a couple other diamonds to follow.
A non-profit organization raising funds to refurbish and restore the grandstand at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, Save the Grandstand Inc., has recently been formed. For more information, contact Bunny Balk at 920-392-9730.
For more information about the overall project, call the Portage Parks and Recreation Department at 608-742-2178.
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters
The Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters is undergoing a restoration, replacing the chinking between the logs on the walls of the Surgeons Quarters cabin. The current chinking was during initial restoration efforts after the DAR purchased the cabin in 1939 and before it opened as a museum in 1954. Work began in April 2021 and is scheduled to end in 2023. The first year of the project, in which Laib Restoration worked on the east and south walls of the cabin, is now complete.
In addition to removing the chinking, Laib Restoration is replacing any sections of the logs that are exhibiting advanced signs of deterioration with new tamarack wood sections. The wood was supplied by the DAR, is cut to size by the workers with machine tools, and then distressed with traditional tools in order to make the new sections resemble the cabin’s historical hand-hewn logs. Also, the white vertical boards on the cabin’s corners are being removed, as they were not part of the cabin’s original 19th century structure, but were added later in the cabin’s history.
For more information, please visit the Restoration page.
Mural project
In June 2020, the newest mural was installed on the south wall of the Cottonwood Bar & Grill, 312 DeWitt St., in downtown Portage. The mural depicts the label from Eulberg Brewing Company’s Picnic Beer. The brewery, once located in downtown, closed in 1958.
Kelly Meredith painted this mural, her third and the sixth overall in the art form of traditional mural painting since 2012. Meredith’s prior murals depict three distinct eras of automobiles and gas stations (NAPA Auto Parts, 125 E. Edgewater St.) and the early people of Portage (Wilz Hometown Pharmacy, 140 E. Cook St.).
Other mural locations with artist in parenthesis: DAAR Engineering, 151 E. Cook St. (Chris Dreyer); 806 Silver Lake Dr. (Charles Bradley); and another at the former U.S. Bank drive-up at 212 W. Edgewater St. (Charles Bradley).
Thank you to the Business Improvement District, City of Portage Tourism, Portage Parks and Recreation and Tyler Hoel of H & M Contracting.
Portage Center for the Arts
The new roof is in place at the Portage Center for the Arts and looks great! The PCA’s ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign is in full swing, with the goal of raising $400,000 to cover the cost of replacing the aging roof at this regionally renowned performing arts center. If you would like to contribute, please contact the Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook St., at 608-742-5655.
The project entailed structural repairs for deteriorated rafters and joists, replacement of shingles, insulation of attic space, cutting out existing mortar joints and replacing using tuckpointing method, improving ease of access–including handicapped entrance, replacing current HVAC units with modern, high energy efficient models, and working toward acquiring additional property for future expansion.
New Bubbler
COMPLETED MAY 2019 – The Portage Lions Club worked hard to raise funds for a bubbler at the Splash Pad at Goodyear Park, providing refreshment to the kids and adults who frequent the park.
Fountain at Bridal Pond
COMPLETED JULY 2016 – The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce has reached its goal for funding a new fountain at Bridal Pond at Pauquette Park.
The park hosts family reunions, picnics, weddings and more. The fountain and bridges that span the pond have appeared in generations of wedding and senior high photographs.
Columbia Energy Center
COMPLETED JUNE 2018 – A $150 million project at the energy plant to install a catalytic reduction system at the Columbia Energy Center, just south of Portage.
A ribbon cutting ceremony on July, 14, 2014 signaled the completion of a prior $627 million project to install emissions reduction technology ahead of schedule and under budget, reducing sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions by more than 90%.
For more information, visit alliantenergy.com or call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268).
Portage Library Expansion
COMPLETED 2013–Portage Public Library has a history of strengthening residents of our community, and now is the time for the Library to become the source of creative thinking and information that can prepare us for life throughout the 21st Century.
The Portage Public Library Expansion project entailed a roughly 6,500 square-foot addition extending to the end of the block, bringing the total library space to approximately 24,800 square feet. The entire children’s area has now moved to the addition. The new story time room has an adjacent craft room with child-sized tables, chairs, counters, and sinks. The new children’s area is now double the size of the old one, accommodating more resources with less crowding.
The renovation of the computer station space increased the number of public use computers. The area that functioned as the Teen Space is now enclosed in glass to create a solarium – a quiet, comfortable area for seniors and adults to sit, drink a cup of coffee, and read a newspaper or magazine. The new design increases the number of meeting rooms from 2 to 6.
Splash Pad
COMPLETED, JULY 4, 2013–The Portage Service Club Association saw its goal through! Centrally located in Goodyear Park, the Splash Pad is designed for young children and families. Benches, a shade structure, and a park shelter with restrooms have recently been added.
The Splash Pad will bring many families to the community who will stay, shop and eat.
Bike Racks
Avid bikers can rejoice! The Portage Business Improvement District and Portage Parks & Recreation Department installed bike racks in downtown and in parks around town.
Two colors were chosen for the racks — black for the downtown racks and green for the park racks. The invitation for cyclists to come to Portage and our county is wide open as Columbia County boasts a system of bike loops, including four loops that pass through Portage. Bike loop maps are available in the Chamber office.
Silver Lake Beach Shelter & Retaining Wall
Those enjoying the summer sun at Silver Lake Beach will notice a couple upgrades. The construction of a new Silver Lake Beach shelter, featuring a concession area, changing rooms and storage area, was completed in 2012. A new retaining wall was constructed to replace the old wall in 2015.
Wisconsin River Watch House
COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 2013 – The reconstruction of the Wisconsin River watch house located along the levee walkway.