Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Programs Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parks staff preview winter programs, sponsorship guide and maintenance efforts including lagoon skating and invasive species work
Summary
Staff reported weekend ice-skating at the Menominee Park lagoon with roughly 700 participants to date, progress on tree pruning and buckthorn control, a new sponsorship package to raise event support, and posted seasonal positions; staff also announced a February Native American culture program co-hosted with the Oshkosh Public Museum.
Parks staff updated the Oshkosh Advisory Park Board on multiple program and maintenance items, including a new sponsorship booklet, ongoing tree pruning and invasive-species control, an outdoor skating program at the Menominee Park lagoon and seasonal hiring outreach.
Staff said the department has opened weekend ice-skating in the lagoon (Saturdays and Sundays, 12–4 p.m.) and has held seven to nine skating dates so far with roughly 700 total participants to date. The program is operating in partnership with Oshkosh Recreation and a skate instructor and may continue through February, weather permitting.
“...we've had about, I think we've been open 7, 9 dates already, and we've had about 700 participants come down,” said a parks staff member reporting the skating numbers.
On maintenance, Parks staff member Mr. Dirks said crews are completing Zone 3 pruning (south of the river to Ninth Street) and have accelerated work on buckthorn removal where winter conditions allowed access. Staff described mowing buckthorn that ranges from approximately 2 to 6 inches in diameter to reduce seed sources and make future control easier.
Staff also previewed a new sponsorship and fund-development booklet intended for distribution to the chamber and community partners; the booklet highlights event sponsorship levels and in-kind giving options. Parks staff said they already secured at least one large sponsor and highlighted a planned partnership for summer screenings and early-childhood developmental checks through a sponsor identified in the packet as Theta ThetaCare.
Separately, Anne Schafer, the department’s marketing and fund development coordinator, described a Wisconsin Arts Board grant that funded a Native American culture program. The free public panel, co-hosted with the Oshkosh Public Museum, is scheduled for Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. at the convention center and will feature Jennifer Haas (UWM archaeology), David Greenan (Menominee Tribe) and Bill Quackamasch (Ho-Chunk). Anne said 50 people had registered as of the meeting and her goal is 300 attendees; the organizers will announce additional artist workshops in March and April.
Staff reminded the public that seasonal positions for parks and concessions are posted on the City of Oshkosh website and encouraged applications from ages 14 and up.
No formal board action was required; staff requested feedback on outreach and the sponsorship package.
