GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — The Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department is asking the city for some help.
It is requesting $2.25 million worth of ARPA funds for upgrades to Bay Beach Amusement Park.
"That's how much money we lost in revenue during the pandemic," parks department director Dan Ditscheit said.
It's a place that generates a lot of energy, and brings in a lot of people.
"It's a huge jewel for the city of Green Bay," District Four alderperson Bill Galvin said.
Ditscheit says the bulk of the funds the parks department is proposing to the city would go toward renovations to the main pavilion, including replacing the roof and adding proper heating during winter.
"We'd like to make that building a year-round use," Ditscheit said. "Currently, it's a seasonal use."
The parks department is also asking to use the money to replace two rides — The Bay Beast and The Falling Star.
"It's a big hit in our annual budget with those two rides down," Ditscheit said.
"This is part of the problem when you buy used things," Galvin said. "They've got a shorter lifespan."
Friends of Bay Beach, the park's fundraising group, has already bought a used ride to replace The Bay Beast. It has yet to be installed, but the city has not found The Falling Star's replacement.
"That's a much bigger ride, a much more expensive ride," Ditscheit said.
"And if we get the funding from the city to do all of this, the Friends of Bay Beach is prepared to raise some money and add one more ride," Friends of Bay Beach president Dave Charles said.
Green Bay's finance committee is looking over the parks department's request at its next meeting Tuesday night.
"I'm not sure if they'll get all of it, or any of it," Galvin said.
But Galvin — who is on the committee — says he would like to see Bay Beach get some funding.
"If we can make it a bigger money-maker, it's better for the community," Galvin said.
Ditscheit says even if the city does not approve the parks department's request, there is no plan to increase the price of the rides.
Galvin says the City Council can still take up the parks department's proposal if the finance committee does not approve it.
