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Mama Rosa sculpture drew more than 174,000 visitors and roughly $12.3 million in economic impact, tourism chair says
Summary
Wauwatosa City’s Tourism Commission told the Community Affairs Committee that the Thomas Dambo 'Mama Rosa' installation and related events brought 174,000+ visitors (June–Dec. 2025) from 48 states and generated an estimated $12.3 million in local economic impact, while the commission said it will continue marketing and accessibility work into 2026.
Dan Underberg, chair of the Wauwatosa Tourism Commission, told the City’s Community Affairs Committee that the Thomas Dambo installation known as "Mama Rosa" and a slate of arts and culinary events drew substantial regional attention in 2025 and produced measurable economic benefits for Wauwatosa.
"The bold number $12,300,000 in economic impact from this one significant sculpture," Underberg said, summarizing figures the commission compiled for June–December 2025. He told the committee that more than 174,000 visitors came to Firefly Grove Park and related programming and that visitors came from 48 states.
The tourism…
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