Advisory Recreation Board

The board voted to support City Council adopting an ordinance that would allow Parks & Rec to sell beer at city parks and facilities. Staff said the immediate use would be Bands on the Beach, and framed it as a way to raise money and rely less on property taxes—though it also shifts city events further toward alcohol sales as a revenue tool. The board’s role here is advisory; the real decision sits with City Council.

The board voted to support a Mariners Trail fence replacement project and a grant application strategy intended to avoid a local tax hit. Staff described replacing roughly 5,100 feet of split-rail fence, with an estimated $125,000 budget and proposed funding from a $100,000 DNR Recreation Trails grant plus Friends of Mariners Trail and in-kind staff time. The “no taxpayer contribution” promise depends on winning the grant and lining up the other sources—something residents should watch as the application moves forward.

Staff laid out a shift in how the city may support the Community Band: a meeting with band members was scheduled for Feb. 24 to talk about changes and a future vision, including exploring a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The city’s 2026 funding was cut from $8,700 to $3,000, even as a full concert schedule is still planned—meaning the band is being asked to do the same public-facing work with far less city backing. Staff also said they’re looking at grants, donations, and an investment fund through the Lakeshore Community Foundation, which reads like a longer-term move away from city-paid performers and toward outside fundraising.

Because of budget cuts, staff are looking at replacing annual flowers with perennial native plantings at Central Park East. The pitch is lower long-term cost and environmental benefits, with volunteers doing the work. This is the kind of “do more with less” change that can either build community ownership—or quietly downgrade what residents expect from park upkeep—depending on follow-through and volunteer capacity.

Staff are exploring raised garden beds on the Senior Center patio to make the space more inviting and interactive. The plan relies on donations and volunteers, which keeps costs down but also makes the timeline and quality dependent on who steps up. Residents who want this to happen will likely need to be part of the labor and fundraising.

Staff reported that the Kites Over Lake Michigan volunteer committee is working with Shoreline Credit Union and Fox Communities Credit Union on a sculpture at Neshotah Beach. City staff are considering creating a city committee to give feedback, which suggests the project is moving toward a more formal city role even if it’s being driven by outside partners. Residents should expect questions about design, placement, and who pays for installation and long-term maintenance.

Staff proposed piloting a gravel-bed tree nursery with the high school to cut tree costs and increase planting. They said the city typically buys 2-inch trees for $200–$250 each because they survive better, while bare-root trees cost $5–$20 but need more care and die more often; the gravel bed is meant to improve survival rates. It’s a practical cost-control idea, but it also signals the city is trying to stretch limited budgets by leaning on student labor and experimentation.

Staff updated the board on efforts to rethink the cemetery’s perpetual flower program with more sustainable options like native and perennial plants. They also described exploring donations/grants to create an investment fund through the Lakeshore Community Foundation, plus possible partnerships for a native plant nursery and even a greenhouse purchase. This is still in the “figuring it out” stage, but it’s another example of the city trying to replace ongoing operating costs with one-time fundraising and volunteer-driven solutions.

The director’s updates included a $5,000 donation to improve the Senior Center Library area and a submitted $15,000 AARP grant request to upgrade Wi‑Fi/technology at the Community House, aimed at seniors. Staff also reported signed grant paperwork for Paddlers Park improvements (50/50 city capital funds and a Wisconsin Coastal Management grant) and progress toward bidding and construction planning at Riverside Park, including upcoming youth engagement for the skatepark. The biggest near-term watch item: Neshotah Beach improvements were headed to City Council for a borrowing vote on 2/26/26, with bids and a go/no-go decision expected after cost estimates and survey feedback are reviewed in early April.