GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay’s city council will likely decide the future of bringing a beach back to Bay Beach Amusement Park when it meets at the end of the month.
As FOX 11 first reported two weeks ago, high water levels and money concerns have put the project in doubt.
Green Bay’s parks committee tied 2-2 Wednesday evening on whether to put the beach project on hold until the necessary grants and fundraising can be secured.
“If we’re over a million dollars short over two years into this process, maybe that’s a sign from above to say slow this down a little bit and get your finances in order,” said Jesse Brunette, president of the city council.
Two years ago, the city council signed off on the $7 million project for a sand beach, boardwalk, pier, bathhouse with a concession stand, parking lot, and groundwater management system.
$5 million was bonded for the project. The remaining $2 million is supposed to come from grants and fundraising, but more than half of that amount, $1.1 million, still hasn’t been secured.
Despite concerns about high water levels, city parks staff has recommended holding off only on the pier, which is tabbed to be about half the project’s cost, at $3.3 million.
“I’ve had so many people call me and say are these people nuts, there’s not going to be a beach,” said Kathy Lefebvre, a Green Bay alder. “You can’t have a beach with this high water.”
“All I can tell you at this point is what our consultant is telling me, which is yes in storm events the sand might wash out and likely wash out, but over time will come back,” said Dan Ditscheit, Green Bay’s parks director.
Another concern is the project’s bond payments, which are to be paid for through the park’s revenue. No taxpayer money is part of the project.
City staff says the bond carries $2.5 million in interest payments.
The park’s fundraising group wants to keep the option open of eliminating some of that debt earlier rather than invest in something that it believes has high risk.
“We would like to get the park back operating within its means and only spend money that it makes,” said David Charles, a leader of the Friends of Bay Beach fundraising group.
“We can make these payments and it’s not really going to sacrifice much on the park,” said Ditscheit.
Ditscheit tells FOX 11 the bond calls for interest only payments of $193,000 until 2023. He says the payments are $430,000 per year between 2024 and 2038.
Ditscheit says the park revenue will be able to support the increased payment in 2024, because an annual bond payment of $275,000 for the Zippin Pippin will be coming off the books this year.
Charles says there are plenty of other financial concerns for Bay Beach, causing his group to be against moving forward with the beach construction. He says the city is currently in a legal fight over $600,000 with the firm that designed the park’s new Ferris wheel.
Charles also points out the park will likely be losing $300,000 to $400,000 in revenue this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ditscheit confirmed that is an accurate prediction.
The park is scheduled to have a soft opening June 20th-21st. Capacity will be limited to no more than 500 people each day the park is opened.
The full city council is scheduled to make a decision when it meets Monday June 29th.
If the city moves forward with the beach, construction could start this fall. It would then be ready either next spring or early summer.
The city also revealed Wednesday it would have to spend an additional $400,000 to fence off the nearby train route if the project moves forward. Ditscheit says it would be mandated by the state.
Ditscheit says the city could eliminate the train route, but would prefer not to. He says the route will likely need to be shortened due to where the bathhouse and concession stand is set to be constructed.
The city is also planning to spend $550,000 this fall to build a stormwater pond at the park’s entrance. Ditscheit says this will help dry up the area behind the park’s pavilion, which has pooled with water in recent years after storms.
