GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Cellcom wants its money back from a donation it made in 2019 to bring a sand beach back to Bay Beach Amusement Park. However, Green Bay’s city council has denied the cellphone provider’s request.
The Friends of Bay Beach Amusement Park has spent over 10 years fundraising more than $12 million to improve the popular summer-time destination. It didn’t sit well with the fundraising group when it heard Cellcom wanted its money back.
“I’m absolutely irritated by a Green Bay company that does everything they’re doing, coming back and saying, ‘Yeah, can we have our $100,000 back that we gave you a few years ago?'” said Friends of Bay Beach President Dave Charles.
Charles urged the council to reject Cellcom’s request during its meeting Tuesday night.
Mick O’Malley, Cellcom’s director of government relations and sustainability, argued the project has drastically changed since the money was donated.
“To us, this was a prime project where our community was making a big step towards clean water in the bay and would provide an asset to be used by people throughout our service area,” said O’Malley.
In 2018, Green Bay’s city council passed a $7 million plan for a sand beach, a pier, boardwalk, bathhouse and new parking lots.
Over time, the plan became more costly and in 2020, the council approved breaking the project into two phases.
Two months ago, the city announced a $2.4 million federal grant provided enough money for a viewing platform and a new shoreline walkway. However, debt would need to be refinanced in 2026 before even thinking about phase 2, which would include the sand beach.
“We just don’t have room to get rid of $4 million worth of debt and start giving money back,” said Charles.
“We don’t want to diminish the value of this community project,” said O’Malley. “However, what is most closely aligned with Cellcom’s goal of improving water quality has been tabled.”
The city council sided with the Friends of Bay Beach. Some council members pointed out there is still hope to have a beach, and it will become even more difficult if money starts being returned.
“We need to see this project continue to move, so it sounds like that $100,000 is vital where it’s at right now,” said Green Bay Alderperson Alyssa Proffitt.
The hope is for the viewing platform to be ready for the summer of 2026.
Cellcom had suggested returning the donation and it would install public Wi-Fi at Bay Beach for a 50-month period — a value of $100,000. The council rejected that alternative, but said it would be willing to keep talking with Cellcom about other ideas.
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