GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The effort to bring the beach back to Bay Beach Amusement Park has hit another roadblock.
City officials were hopeful to start construction on a pier and boardwalk for the beach this fall, but now they’re planning to spend the next few weeks reassessing the entire beach project.
Constructing a 450-foot pier overlooking the bay was supposed to kick off the first of two phases of bringing swimming back to Bay Beach Amusement Park for the first time in more than seven decades. However, three bids for the work all came in at least $1 million over the city’s budget, putting the entire project back to the drawing board.
“The phases are all dependent on budget,” said Dan Ditscheit, the city’s parks director. “Obviously, if we’re able to secure more dollars, we can do more projects.”
The city had the pier budgeted at $2.1 million. Three bids ranged between $3.1 million to $3.8 million.
Four years ago, the city council agreed to borrow $5 million for the entire beach project, with plans to fundraise and secure grants for an additional $2 million dollars.
Two years ago, a lack of funds and water level concerns put the pier, boardwalk and storm water management into a first phase of work. It also put the beach and bathhouse with concession stand into a second phase.
“We did not meet our fundraising goal, and we did not meet our grant goal,” said Ditscheit. “That is why we had to look at a refinancing package, and that is why we had to take a second look at the pier design to design it differently from how it was originally envisioned.”
The pier design was already scaled back in the bid that came back over budget compared to the original plan, according to Ditscheit. City officials say they’ll look at potentially rebidding another, more affordable design.
“Still think this is a really important project for the city of Green Bay, started by former Mayor Schmitt and the then common council — still want to see it through,” said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.
“I’d be in favor for it as long as it doesn’t cost taxpayers too much money,” said Steve Campbell, the alderperson for the district Bay Beach is in.
Campbell believes another plea for donations could be a solution.
“Or someone would step up to the plate, maybe either to join the Bay Beach or a group or possibly come out on their own,” said Campbell.
The plan has been to pay the bond payments for the project from Bay Beach revenue, not using tax dollars.
City officials couldn’t tell us how much money has already been spent and how much is currently on hand. They plan to have that information ready when the city’s parks committee reviews, and hopefully makes a recommendation, on the project next month.
City officials have maintained that water quality tests have been comparable to other beaches along the bay.
Mayor Eric Genrich tells FOX 11 more consistent testing has not brought any greater concerns, but the city would still like to nail down a few concerns that persist at other beaches.
“Blue-green algae has been the biggest concern that we’ve had,” said Genrich. “The cyanobacteria that is created, especially towards the end of the summer months, end of July into August, that remains a concern. It is definitely fair to say this beach would not be any worse than any others on the Great Lakes or on the bay. Another thing we just want to investigate and make sure that there aren’t any issues with is with E. coli, which is also a concern at a number of other beaches.”
Genrich says using ARPA funds on the project has not been considered to this point.
City officials are already looking at using $1.45 million of ARPA money to replace the roof on the pavilion at Bay Beach, as well as make it a year-round facility. Another $800,000 of ARPA funds is being proposed to help replace the Bay Beast and Falling Star rides, which were removed ahead of this summer.
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