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Oshkosh parks staff recommend small fee hikes for shelters, larger increase for Lakeshore building
Summary
Parks department staff asked the advisory Parks Board to recommend a $5 across‑the‑board increase in shelter rental fees and a $50 increase for the new Lakeshore Park four‑seasons building, citing heavy weekend demand and additional staff setup/cleanup costs; the board signaled support to forward the recommendation to the common council.
Parks department staff asked the Oshkosh Advisory Parks Board on Oct. 14 to recommend modest increases to park shelter rental rates for the 2025 budget cycle.
The staff presentation proposed a $5 across‑the‑board increase for typical park shelter rentals and a $50 increase for the new Lakeshore Park four‑seasons building. Staff said the Lakeshore building is frequently rented on weekends and that the larger increase reflects additional staff time for set‑up and take‑down, security and cleaning, and heavier use relative to simple shelters.
Why it matters: staff told the board the Lakeshore facility has quickly become popular and is frequently booked on Saturdays and Sundays well into 2026, which constrains availability and increases operational workload. During discussion staff described amenities included with a Lakeshore weekend rental — kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator, tables and chairs (set by staff), a large screen TV for presentations, indoor restrooms plus exterior overflow restrooms — and reported a seated capacity around 98 (125 building capacity before tables are set).
Board members asked how the proposed rates compare with neighboring communities and whether the $50 Lakeshore increase was benchmarked. Staff said finding an exact apples‑to‑apples comparison is difficult because facilities vary by size and amenities; they noted a comparable Outagamie County shelter charges roughly three times what Oshkosh currently charges, and that the Lakeshore rental as priced remains relatively reasonable. Staff also said Lakeshore rentals are typically all‑day weekend bookings and that renters do not receive keys; staff meet renters to open and secure the building, which increases labor costs.
The board discussed resident vs. nonresident rates. Staff read current weekend rates for Lakeshore: a resident weekend rental listed at about $288.75 and a nonresident rate near $341 (the presenter described the resident weekend rental as “under $300”), and said the $50 proposed increase would still keep the facility competitively priced compared with some other options.
Board discussion closed with general support for forwarding the recommendation to the common council as part of the department’s budget workshop later in October.
Next steps: the parks board will forward its recommendation to the common council for consideration during the city’s budget process; council budget workshops are scheduled at the end of the month.
