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Shorewood Park Commission weighs sponsors, volunteers and future format for Arctic Fever
Summary
The Park Commission discussed a 2025 sponsorship guide, whether to restore Arctic Fever to two days or keep it as a one-day event after weather-related reductions, and ways to expand volunteer and low-cost community activities; commissioners favored keeping current events while exploring modest, revenue‑generating add-ons and volunteer clean-ups.
The Shorewood Park Commission on April 22 discussed expanding sponsorships, volunteer offerings and the future format of Arctic Fever as staff roll out the city’s 2025 sponsorship guide. Parks and Recreation Manager Czech summarized current sponsor interest and asked commissioners whether the city should continue trying to hold Arctic Fever as a two‑day event or accept a single‑day format after recent weather-related reductions.
Commissioner Wenner said she opposed reducing Arctic Fever to a single day, noting disappointed residents and canceled sled-dog activities. She also urged more volunteer-based events and community-focused vendor opportunities, saying the city could add outlets like farmers markets, tree-planting and buckthorn removal events.
Parks and Recreation Manager Czech said the city has a budgeted General Fund contribution for events and that sponsorships have helped offset costs; he asked the commission to consider growing attendance while remaining within existing budget constraints. Commissioner Garske asked for data on cost per attendee and suggested the commission consider small-fee add-ons that could generate revenue — for example, a $20 entry fee for a 5K with a T-shirt to offset event costs.
Commissioners also discussed low-cost engagement ideas (leprechaun hunts, park bingo) and the potential to piggyback community clean-ups on events. Commissioner Wenner noted litter along Smithtown sidewalk and proposed providing gloves and bags and awarding a prize for clean-up participation.
The commission reached a consensus to continue current events for another year or two while exploring additions that are efficient and inexpensive; no formal vote to change event formats was taken at the meeting. Parks staff will continue outreach to potential sponsors and report back with any proposals to modify event length, vendor participation or fee-based add-ons.
