A ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a new park in Marathon County will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13. A new quarter-mile pathway leads to the monument marker which indicates the exact center of the northern half of the western hemisphere (45°N – 90°W). The park is located on Meridian Road, just north of Highway U, in rural Marathon County. The event is open to the public.

There are only four 45° – 90° locations in the world. Two of these are under water, one is located on a mountainous portion of China and one is located here in Central Wisconsin. Marathon County’s location is the only conveniently accessible marker in the world.

In addition to making a substantial monetary contribution to the park, Marathon County formed a work group to develop a plan for the redevelopment of the historical marker, as there is a perceived significance that this geographical location is responsible for the prevalence and high quality of ginseng in Marathon County. Through the dedicated efforts of the work group, and through the generosity of many area businesses, contractors and associations, the property which holds the historical marker has undergone development. A rendering of the new park can be viewed online.

The work group was made up of Rebecca Frisch, Director of Marathon County Conservation, Planning & Zoning; Dave Mack, Program Manager for Marathon County Transportation; Christopher Fieri, surveyor for the county; Dave Decker, technician for the county; William Duncanson, former director of Marathon County Parks, Recreation and Forestry; James Griesbach, Marathon County Highway Commissioner; Lance Leonhard, Deputy Administrator of Marathon County and Richard Barrett, Executive Director of the Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Anyone who visits the marker is encouraged to stop at the Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau in downtown Wausau to sign the official ‘45°N – 90°W Club’ registration book and receive a commemorative coin as proof of their membership.