​COMMUNITY

about Wisconsin Rapids

• Community History - Earning the name "Wisconsin Rapids" in 1920, the area has a long history of lumber, cranberries, industry and innovation. 
• Location - We’re well connected! Our central location and airport/highway/rail transportation links makes us a crossroads of commercial and leisure activity, providing broad-based opportunities for individuals and businesses.
• Economic Profile - We have a clear mission - grow businesses, grow jobs, and create a robust economy and broadly shared prosperity. The Economic Profile, provided by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, gives an overview of the infrastructure, resources and opportunities for businesses and residents in the Wisconsin Rapids area. Our Community Development office offers direct services to Wisconsin Rapids businesses, including permitting assistance, financing, advocacy, location assistance and the development of successful business districts.
• Workforce - We have more than 34,500 workers in Wood County, as well as 415,000 workers who live within a 75-mile commute of our businesses. The Midwest work-ethic values reflected by these skilled and productive workers are embraced and nurtured in our community schools and colleges. 
• Vital Signs Report - A report filled with information on the South Wood County area designed to foster conversations supported by accurate data.

Community Events

• Community Events Calendar - The Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau offers an events calendar, including a number of events in the area, including festivals, sports, farmer's markets and more.
• Community Calendar -  Calendar of some events provided by area organizations on the McMillan Memorial Library website.
• Heart of Wisconsin Events Calendar - List of upcoming business and community events provided by the Chamber of Commerce.
• Wisconsin Rapids Community Media - Collection of videos and information covering local government, school and community events.
• Daily Tribune Events List - Community and social events provided by the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

Awards & Recognition

• Top Small City to Raise a Family - The Wisconsin Rapids/Marshfield statistical census area was named the Forbes 5th best Small City to Raise a Family (nearby Stevens Point was #6 as well).
• 2014 Smart Rural Community - Solarus, the local cable and phone company, received a 2014 Smart Rural Community Showcase Award
• Ranking of inexpensive cities for job seekers - Based in part on the region’s affordability, Wisconsin Rapids was recently was ranked 14th in a study of top cities for job seekers in Wisconsin.
• America in Bloom - In 2014 Wisconsin Rapids participated for the first time in the America in Bloom program earning a rating of 3 out of 5.

Arts, Culture & History

• Arts Council of South Wood County -  The Arts Council provides a variety of professional performing art forms for residents of all ages, as well as education programs.
• Central Wisconsin Cultural Center - The Central Wisconsin Cultural Center is a non-profit visual, literary and lyrical art organization. We hope that the many exciting art programs, music instruction and classes inspires you to visit often.
• South Wood County Historical Museum - The South Wood County Historical Society and Museum works to preserve the history of the south Wood County area.
• Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial - The vision of the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial was to create a park with a natural and scenic setting to house a memorial to our firefighting and EMS heroes from across this great State of Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Paper Making Museum​ - The museum focuses on the papermaking history in the Wisconsin River valley and the history of the Consolidated Water Power and Paper Company.
• Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre - A community theatre that showcases local talent while educating and offering opportunities for self expression.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce - Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic investor organization comprised of non-profit, educational, government, and small and large businesses.
• Incourage - Following a vision to create "a community that works well for all people," Incourage offers grants and scholarships, publishes resources about the community, and engages in a variety of projects.
• Lowell Center - The mission of the Lowell Center is to enhance the quality of life for adults age 50 and over and to promote positive attitudes toward aging. 
• United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties, Inc. - United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.
• Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau - Provides resources to local communities and travelers, promoting travel to the area, events and conventions.   

parks & trails

• Parks and Recreation Department - Visit the department's website to see a full list of City parks, aquatics, recreation programing and more! 
• ​Central Wisconsin Green Map - Open Green Maps are designed to be explored, customized and enhanced by people like you. Share your insights, ratings and images or suggest, compare and share sites.
• City Parks & Trails - The City has 91 miles of on and off-street trails and 14 parks. Explore them first in GIS then go and visit them for yourself!
• Wood County Parks - Wood County offers visitors a variety of activities at any of our 7 recreational parks, 3 rivers, many lakes, 38,000 acres of county forest land, and 18,500 acres of Wood County State Wildlife Area.

Aquatics

• Witter Park Aquatics Center - Witter Park Aquatics Center features three pools. The tot pool has exciting activities, including two water slides, spray features and a tot lazy river. The leisure pool includes a play area, basketball hoops, a water walk, lazy river with a "rapids" action channel, a tube water slide with plunge pool and a body water slide. The recreation pool features basketball hoops, lap swimming, a zip line feature, diving board and a climbing wall. And you can enjoy a snack from the concessions stand on the pool deck, featuring colorful shade structures, furniture and a grass sunbathing berm. The bath house also includes a four-seasons reservable shelter and the admissions area will also serve as a warming house during the winter ice skating season. During the winter months the drop circle will be converted into a large ice skating circle.  ​
• Witter Park Splash Pad - A free, family-friendly splash pad located in the same park as the Witter Park Aquatics Center.
• Mead Field Splash Pad - A free, family-friendly splash pad with a number of fun features.

Recreation

• Recreation Programs - The Wisconsin Rapids Recreation Department's provides a wide variety of year-round recreation programs.
• Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo - The city offers a free municipal zoo, including a petting zoo, a play area, a children's garden and more.
• Skate Park - The skate park is open for skateboarding, aggressive skating and BMX biking.

Sports

• Wisconsin Rapids Youth Sports Association - A a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting family values, team participation, values and ethics.
• Wisconsin Rapids Rafters - More than 46,500 fans attend the Northwoods League collegiate baseball games each summer. The Rafters play 70 games each summer, half of them at historic Witter Field.
• South Wood County Recreation Center - The Center provides community ice skating programs for youth and adults including open public skate and is home to the SWC Youth Hockey Association, Wisconsin Rapids Figure Skating Club and Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings Junior A Hockey Team.
• Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings - The Riverkings are a Junior A Hockey Team within the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. The Riverkings call the South Wood County Recreation Center in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, home ice.
• Wisconsin Rapids Area Sports Commission - A forum for leaders in the athletic community who are passionate about promoting our area as a sports destination
• Central Wisconsin BMX - From the moment that the starting gate slams down, BMX racing will give you that rush of adrenaline you've been looking for.

Education

• Mid-State Technical College - MSTC provides responsive, flexible, high-quality education to foster student achievement and life-long learning.
• Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools - Working together with home and community, we are dedicated to providing the best education for every student, enabling each to be a thoughtful, responsible contributor to a changing world.
• Assumption Catholic Schools - Assumption Catholic Schools seeks to inspire excellence and personal growth for our students academically, spiritually, and socially.
• Immanuel Lutheran Schools - Immanuel Lutheran School has been serving the Wisconsin Rapids area since 1884. We offer small class sizes with personal attention promoting confidence and achievement in all areas.
• St Paul's Lutheran School - Serving the Wisconsin Rapids area since 1899, owned and operated by St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church; a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. 
• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - Located less than 20 minutes from Wisconsin Rapids is a world-class university that offers Associate, Bachelor, Master, and PhD degrees.
• Child Care - Many high-quality options for child care are available in the area.

Disclaimer:  It is the intent of the City of Wisconsin Rapids that this website and its links serve to convey community information to its users. The links listed on this page are not official sites of the City of Wisconsin Rapids. The City does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites. They are listed as a service to the residents of Wisconsin Rapids. The City only links to other government and local non-profit organizations, or organizations who have a direct contractual relationship with the City to allow for the public’s use of City facilities.