GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The price and scope of bringing a beach back to Green Bay’s ‘Bay Beach Amusement Park’ is growing.
The expected $5 million cost of bringing a swimming beach to the park is now $7 million.
The added cost is to help handle larger crowds expected at the park.
At first glance, the fundraising group Friends of Bay Beach had some hesitation whether it was a good idea to bring a beach back to Bay Beach.
Allan Jamir, a board member for the Friends of Bay Beach, tells FOX 11….
“If you open up the beach right away, there is not enough parking. There is not enough bathrooms. There is not enough bathhouses. There is not the infrastructure.”
The group is happy to hear those concerns are now being addressed.
The original $5 million for the project included the sand beach, a boardwalk, a bathhouse, and a 450-foot pier.
Another $2 million has now been added to increase parking, storm water management, and renovate the pavilion.
“The beach will be great,” said Dan Ditscheit, the interim parks director for Green Bay.
“It will bring a lot of people to the city and Bay Beach, but it’s going to compound the problem of the parking issue that is out there.”
As for the pavilion renovations, city officials say they have had plans to make it a more year-round facility.
Ditscheit say they say the beach project provides the opportunity to do just that.
“There is a demand for that right now, so there is always a need for banquet facilities and rental facilities. It’s additional added income that will come back to the park and the city.”
To pay for everything, the city plans to fundraise $1 million, collect another $1 million through grants, and borrow $5 million.
Jamir believes revenue from the park would pay off the loan.
“We just felt if we keep going the way we’re going with Bay Beach, we’re going to create the revenue.”.
The city council will vote on the financial plan on Monday.
The city’s goal is to start construction on the beach next year.
A consultant working with the city on the project has said that testing shows the water is safe for swimming.
However, additional tests are being conducted. Some supporters have said they’d like to see those tests completed before moving ahead with the project.
City staff admits the beach would likely be closed several times per year for E-coli and algae blooms.
However, staff says the closures would be in line with what is experienced at other beaches along Lake Michigan.
