The Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay (File Photo)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay Parks Department is proposing a $7 parking fee for 69 “premier” parking spots at Bay Beach Amusement Park, but the vast majority of the park’s 1,440 stalls would remain free, under a plan a city committee will discuss next week.
“As costs continue to rise, staff is continually looking for creative ways to provide new revenue streams at Bay Beach Amusement Park, while still keeping the park affordable to the general public. Staff is proposing to implement a premier parking area adjacent to the main ticket booth entrance to the park,” a memo by Parks Director Dan Ditscheit states.
A map included with the agenda 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 uses for paid parking in other areas, such as downtown.
“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 “ the memo states.
The revenues, estimated at $30,000-$40,000 per year, would be used for the park.
“All revenues that stay within the park go towards paying Bay Beach expenses or towards other capital improvements throughout the park. Much of the parking lot pavement throughout the park is in poor condition. This new revenue stream will provide additional funding that can be set aside for these improvements. Staff prefers this revenue stream versus increasing ticket prices or concession prices as this is truly an optional fee,” the memo states.
There would not be a charge for ADA designated stalls in that zone.
“The Parking Division will inspect this area on a daily basis and would issue tickets to those who do not pay,” the memo says.
The revenue from parking tickets would go to the Parking Division.
Meanwhile, a new train station at the park could be named the “M&D Depot” in honor of a large donation for the project.
The Friends of Bay Beach Amusement Park raised money for a new, west-end train at the park.
“The scope of work included the purchase of a used train, renovations to the train, replacement of all the railroad tracks to accommodate the larger trains, extending the railroad tracks to the new All-Inclusive playground, construction of new restrooms, relocation of the existing depot by the giant slide and the installation of a new depot by the new playground. The total cost that the Friends of Bay Beach Amusement Park funded towards this project, exceeded $1 million,” a memo to the City Council says.
The friends secured one donor, “who funded nearly the entire project,” the memo states. “The major donor has requested naming rights for only the new depot, not the ride itself or the other elements of the project they funded.”
According to a photo attached to the agenda, the depot would be the “M&D Depot,” but more details about the donor are provided in the memo.
The Parks Committee will discuss at its Wednesday meeting. It is at 5 p.m. in room 207 of City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street.
Bay Beach opens for the season May 2.
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