Mayor Mike Wiza sat down with Gazette staff to give his weekly update on all things Stevens Point. Wiza touched on the possibility of a new dog swimming area and last week’s vaping ban.

New Dog Beach Could Come to Mead Park

Wiza noted that Parks Commission members would discuss the possibility of a dog beach and swimming area at Mead Park on Oct. 2. The K-9 swimming area would be upstream from the current KASH Playground at an existing sandy expanse.

The new pet-friendly swimming area would be fenced off in Mead Park.

An ordinance change would make this the first space besides existing designated dog parks in the city where pets could be off their leash, according to Wiza.

No action will be taken at the commission meeting on Oct. 2.

If the project moves forward, the park could break ground this coming spring.

Wiza on the vaping ban

Last week’s vaping ban officially took effect on Sept. 20. Wiza commented that he feels the unregulated nature of both illegal THC – the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis –  and legal nicotine and non-nicotine vaping products can lead to critical health issues.

“I think it’s important that people understand that this is a pretty serious issue,” Wiza said. “I mean people are dying, and relatively quickly, from this.”

The ban restricts those under the age of 18 from purchasing, using, or possessing vaping or e-cigarette paraphernalia.

The ban stemmed from police voicing concerns about underage vaping in Stevens Point schools. The amendment follows a string of recent lung disease-related cases that are allegedly associated with vaping.