The shoreline at Bay Beach Amusement Park on August 2, 2022. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A proposal to add a premier parking area at Bay Beach Amusement Park advanced Wednesday to the Green Bay Common Council after the city’s Parks Committee approved the motion.
The proposal calls for the implementation of a $7 fee for 69 of the closest parking spots at Bay Beach. With more than 1,400 total stalls available, the vast majority would remain free for visitors.
Officials say the move could generate an estimated $30,000-$40,000 per year. That money would be put toward park improvements, such as fixing up the parking lot pavement.
“We’re kind of to the point now where costs are still going up, so we have very limited sources of revenue at Bay Beach Amusement Park to fund operations,” said Parks Director Dan Ditscheit during Wednesday’s meeting. “We’re not going into debt. We’re able to pay our bills. But where we’re struggling is finding money for improvements. There’s a lot of improvements that need to happen in that park.”
Ditscheit stressed the goal is to ensure Bay Beach remains affordable to the general public. Adding some paid parking stalls was seen as a more favorable option than increasing the price of tickets or concessions.
The premier parking area would be located adjacent to the main ticket booth entrance to the park. A map shows an area to the west of the main parking entrance, south of the pavilion and east of the ticket booth and Tilt-A-Whirl.
The city would use the Passport Parking program, which it already has in place for paid parking in other areas, like in downtown Green Bay.
“We will be able to define a boundary designating the premier parking stalls. Adequate signage would be posted so that the public knows where the designated spots are and how to pay. People will be able to pay through an app on their phone, through a website or through text to pay. This is how all other paid parking options are already set up throughout the City,” a memo states.
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