Parks department cites surge in Lakeshore rentals, seeks staff and trims Menomonee amusements

The Parks Department told the Oshkosh Common Council it has seen a large increase in rental revenue and is proposing modest staffing additions to keep up with demand.

"We are predicting that we're gonna be over $80,000," said the Parks presenter when describing rentals at the new Lakeshore Park Four Seasons building, which staff said is heavily booked into 2026. Department leaders said the extra bookings — plus other new city amenities such as the Riverwalk and several roundabouts — are stretching maintenance capacity and are the principal justification for an enhancement request to add an entry-level park maintenance worker.

Why it matters: parks staff said the revenue gains make the position affordable if combined with modest fee increases and seasonal staffing adjustments. Council members asked for specifics about which fees and savings would pay for the new position; staff said the advisory parks board recommended a $5 across-the-board shelter increase and a $50 Lakeshore fee increase, and that the city realized higher rental revenue in 2024 already.

Park operations and capital: presenters reviewed 2024 accomplishments — playground replacements, Pratt Trail reconstruction, expanded paved paths at the Menomonee Park Zoo, and completion of a new Bear-Fox exhibit — and listed priority capital projects for 2025, including resurfacing courts at Stevens Park and playground replacements at Stevens and Rainbow Park. On the community side, Parks described partnerships with Oshkosh North students and neighborhood associations for tree plantings and stewardship.

Cemetery and donations: the Parks presentation said Riverside and Boyd cemeteries remain low-budget operations but will receive a new bequest expected to bring about $32,000 annually to help maintain cemetery trees and plantings.

Pool and endowment constraints: Parks briefed the council on major repairs at Powell Community Pool, explaining recent lazy-river and leisure-pool replastering projects have been costly (past project cited at roughly $300,000; the latest replaster estimated about $430,000). Staff said the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation maintenance endowment that has subsidized major pool repairs is currently about $1.3 million but carries an agreed floor of $900,000; relying solely on that fund would push it near that floor, requiring higher tax-levy support in 2025.

Revenue facilities and amusements: Parks reviewed revenue-funded operations (the zoo, boat launches, special events and concession stands) and reported strong zoo programming numbers. On the amusement rides at Menomonee Park, staff and advisory board analysis found the enterprise has not covered operating costs and requires substantial capital work (including an estimated $80,000 to replace an aging train engine and about $50,000 to repair the storage shed). The parks board recommended removing the amusement rides from the 2025 budget; staff said alternative small-scale amenities and self-service kayak kiosks are options to keep family recreation in that area.

REITs ball fields and CIP phasing: Parks described a design allocation of $500,000 and said a consultant’s updated estimate put the full REITs parking and field reconstruction cost at about $8 million, up from the earlier $4.5 million figure. Staff proposed phasing work and reallocating available funds — the parks board voted unanimously to recommend moving $500,000 to design a restroom/concession building as a first step.

What’s next: staff asked council members to review enhancement requests and said they will return with refined funding detail and options for balancing fee changes, seasonal staffing adjustments and levy requests.