The sign for the main office of the Outagamie County Parks System, July 18, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Residents in Outagamie County have the power to help shape the future of the county’s parks.
“I think we have a lot of really great parks. I love the ones that have a lot of inclusivity, like the ones that have that nice surface that’s accessible to all children,” said Danielle Pluta. “The parks, they’re all clean, easy to visit.”
“The free animals in general, cause [the kids] love looking at the animals,” said Zoey Ramirez-Quandt while spending the day at Plamann Park’s Children’s Farm.
“The amount of different types of parks, they’re all different and unique in their own ways, so if you get sick of one, you can always go around the corner to a different one. It’s nice to have free access to that,” she added.
On a clear sky summer day, residents flock to the many trails, natural areas, and parks in the county. But those in charge say there’s always room for improvement.
That’s why they’ve created the comprehensive outdoor recreation plan; it will help guide what the county invests in in the coming years.
“Is it in roads and trails, playground equipment, sports venues?” asked county parks Director Justin Schumacher.
However, Schumacher says they can’t further improve the parks without talking to those who use them.
So, as part of the plan, they created a survey for residents.
“[It’s] an opportunity for the community to give us their feedback and what they’re looking for in their park spaces and how we can provide things such as health and wellness benefits for those in the county,” Schumacher said.
Taxpayer opinions are vital, he noted.
“They’re the ones that pay the taxes in to get these great amenities, parks are unique in the fact that they’re accessible to everybody, you consider roads and streets, you need a license, it’s a privilege to drive on them where our parks spaces are something that everyone can enjoy from young to old, it’s a place where community can gather ideas can be shared and experiences can be had.”
“I would say one thing that I was thinking about earlier that I would say they’re doing better at is getting rid of woodchips at parks. I feel like, as a kid growing up, I always hated that,” says Ramierz-Quandt. While she likes that woodchips are being replaced with rubber matting, she wonders if there’s another alternative that doesn’t get overheated on hot summer days.
“More splashpads, maybe?” added Ramirez-Quandt’s boyfriend.
“I think the number one thing, honestly, as a mom is accessible bathrooms that are easy to get to, open during all the park hours,” says Pluta. “You don’t always have that at all the parks, some do and some don’t, so it’s nice to have that.”
After a day spent at Plamann Park’s Children’s Farm, Danielle Pluta’s daughter, Emerson, has an idea for county parks, too.
“I would add little kittens so I could hold them,” she says.
The comprehensive plan survey will be open for the next few months, and while it may not ask any questions about adding kittens to county parks, Schumacher hopes it will give insight into wants and needs for amenities, educational outreach opportunities, and much more.
“We’re going to ask questions like what separates a county park system from a community park system, what do people want to see in a county park, is it a destination where they can spend the entire day, is it the add-on amenities?”
You can access the park survey here, and find more information about the comprehensive plan here.
Comments