At a Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission meeting, Ryan (Parks, Recreation and Forestry staff) reported that the Westbury Bank Aqua Park at Regner Beach drew 31,800 users in 2025 and produced operating income of $136,845 on gross revenue of $295,375. Ryan said the Aqua Park portion of the pond accounted for 25,527 paying customers, far exceeding a preseason breakeven target of 18,200 aqua-park users.\n\nThe revenue surge followed the Aqua Park opening this year; staff contrasted 2025 figures with 2024, when the beach recorded 14,659 users and 439.75 total open hours. Ryan said Regner Beach was open on 66 of 73 possible dates this summer for a total of 494.5 hours, averaging just under 7.5 hours a day during open days, up from 439.75 hours and a 6.87-hour average in 2024.\n\nWhy it matters: the Aqua Park turned Regner Beach into a stronger regional draw, boosted the parks operating margin and created new operational demands for staffing, training and site management. The financial swing between 2024 and 2025 resulted in roughly a $200,000 improvement in operating income, Ryan said.\n\nRyan summarized staffing and operations: for 2025 the department staffed three supervisor lifeguards (down from four in 2024), 26 lifeguards (down from 31) and 13 beach-house attendants (up from 10). He said desired staffing for 2026 will be similar but will likely include more first-year lifeguards because many 2025 lifeguards are expected to move on. "We brought in $295,375," Ryan said when reviewing revenues and expenditures.\n\nOn public-safety and water quality, Ryan said weekly samples were submitted to the Village of Jackson Water Department and that all samples were within the Wisconsin standard for public swimming beaches of fewer than 235 CFU of E. coli per 100 milliliters. He also reported a small number of lifeguard assists and minor incidents (bloody noses, small cuts, bee stings), and one major medical incident in which a swimmer had a seizure; staff followed the emergency action plan and the situation was resolved.\n\nRyan described operational details and recommendations for 2026, including adding life jackets in several sizes and planning lifeguard training dates now to fill an expected 20 or so lifeguard vacancies. He noted a blind spot created by the Aqua Park layout that occasionally required lifeguard announcements to reunite children with parents; staff adopted a short wait before clearing the water when someone could not be found immediately.\n\nOn outside funding, Ryan said the Washington County Safe Summer Swim grant reimbursed 50% of bonus pay for supervisors and lifeguards and 50% of beach-house attendant bonuses this year; the county payment for the season will be $23,290. Ryan added that 2026 will be the last year of that summer swim reimbursement program and his projection for 2026 county support is about $12,000.\n\nThe commission did not take formal action on the report; members offered praise for staff handling of the season and the Aqua Park installation. Ryan closed by recommending modest equipment additions for 2026 and earlier scheduling to address anticipated lifeguard recruitment and first-year training needs.
