GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Bay Beach Amusement Park is about to become more inclusive, as an all-inclusive playground is being donated to the popular summertime destination.
The Friends of Bay Beach fundraising group, which has brought several rides to the park over the last 10 years, is donating the playground.
It’s valued at $1.3 million and could be ready by Memorial Day weekend next year.
“We felt that if that were to be installed in any park that is probably the best park to put it because of the large amount of tourism at that park,” said Dan Ditscheit, Green Bay’s parks director.
The playground, which parks officials say will mostly match renderings provided to the city’s parks committee Wednesday night, will be installed west of the Zippin Pippin rollercoaster. It will include a rubberized surface, accessible to people of all needs, and have equipment areas for all to enjoy, including three zip lines.
“Really the desire is to have this be inclusive to as many children as possible,” said Ditscheit.
City officials chose this location in the park because it is near an underutilized parking lot, is a quieter area for people with sensory issues, and they believe it will fit in with the long-envisioned plan to make the green space a picnic destination.
“If we have this all-inclusive playground that is right next to their picnic shelter, we feel that these shelters are actually going to get rented more often than if the playground wasn’t there to begin with,” said Ditscheit.
Adding restrooms, open-air shelters, and even extending the train route with another depot are all part of the west-end plan for Bay Beach as well but will come when funding is identified.
Members of the city’s parks committee believe the playground is a great addition.
“As much as we try to keep the prices down on the rides here, I still think this is an opportunity for people to take their kids to Bay Beach without the financial part of it and maybe not so much,” said Green Bay Alderperson Steve Campbell, who represents the district where Bay Beach is located.
City officials say maintenance will be the only expense for the city to accepting the playground donation.
The city council is expected to vote to accept the donation at its meeting next week.
