Parks committee accepts $100,000 donation from Onidita Nation for Bay Beach shoreline walk

The Green Bay Parks Committee voted to accept a $100,000 donation from the Onidita Nation to fund engineering or construction costs for a shoreline walk at Bay Beach Amusement Park. The committee approved the acceptance after the department director presented the offer and asked for authorization to accept the gift.

The director said the tribe recently contacted the city and indicated the $100,000 would "go towards the shoreline project at Bay Beach Amusement Park" and that the donor "meets the intent of the funding." The director also said the city had previously bid a wildlife viewing platform but received bids substantially over budget, which prompted staff to consider advancing the shoreline walk first.

A committee member asked about timelines; the director said the donor's letter places no firm deadline on spending and that staff left the donation flexible so it could be used for additional engineering fees or construction depending on final plans. Staff told the committee it is developing a game plan and will present proposals for how to use the funds once it determines whether additional engineering or construction work is required.

A motion to accept the $100,000 donation was made and seconded; the motion carried. The transcript does not record individual vote names. The transcript does not specify the meeting date.

Next steps: staff will return with a plan for how to spend the funds, including whether to apply them to additional engineering or to construction of portions of the shoreline walk.