Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.24.25 Newsletter : TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Rebecca Grill, City Manager DATE: October 24, 2025 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. ROAD CLOSURE ON NORTH CAMPBELL ROAD: A section of North Campbell Road will be closed beginning Tuesday, October 28th. The road will be closed from the bridge over Campbell Creek to the intersection of Taft Avenue and Bauman Street. Traffic detours will be set up at the intersection of Taft Avenue and Bauman Street, along with the intersection of North Campbell Road and Dempsey Trail. The road is expected to open again on October 31st. If you wish to receive e-mailed construction updates on this or any of our ongoing projects, please visit the Public Works Email Distribution List page and follow the instructions for the projects of interest to you. If you have any questions, please contact Construction Management Supervisor Craig Ramthun at (920) 236-5065. 2. MENOMINEE PARK ZOO HOURS: The hours at Menominee Park Zoo have changed for the off-season. The zoo will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., excluding holidays. The animals are excited to welcome fall and winter visitors! As native animals, they tend to remain active during this time, making it an excellent opportunity to visit! For more information, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Director of Parks, at (920) 236-5080. 3. MENOMINEE PARK ZOO FALL EVENT SUCCESS: Two annual events were recently held at Menominee Park Zoo. Brews in the Zoo took place in the evening on Friday, October 17th, and drew just under 500 people to the zoo for a night of live music and costume contests. Then, on Saturday, October 18th, the zoo held its 22nd annual Zooloween Boo, a trick-or-treating event. This event brought in over 3,000 people. Between the two events, the zoo generated $13,848 in revenue, which will be used to support continued programming. Menominee Park Zoo staff and the Oshkosh Parks Department are very excited to see crowds of 3,000+ for Zooloween Boo after 22 years of holding the event. Thank you to all who attended, volunteered, or participated with a community booth. We couldn’t have held such a great event without all of you! For more information, please contact Jen McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 4. PARK PROJECT UPDATES: The reconstruction projects at Stevens Park and 44th Parallel Park are nearing completion and will be ready for use by November 1st. At 44th Parallel Park, two tennis courts were converted into one tennis court and two pickleball courts. At Stevens Park, both the basketball and tennis courts have been resurfaced to improve their functionality for future users. Both projects are currently undergoing final touches, and the Parks Department is excited to see how the community will utilize these enhancements in the years to come. Additionally, the installation of play equipment at Pickart Park is underway and is also scheduled for completion by November 1st. For more information, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Director of Parks, at (920) 236-5080. 5. SEASONAL PARK FACILITIES CLOSED FOR SEASON: All park restrooms and shelter facilities are now closed for the season. Restrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and winterized for the upcoming season. They will reopen in mid-April. For more information, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Director of Parks, at (920) 236-5080. 6. SPECIAL EVENTS ARE FALLING INTO PLACE: The Oshkosh Arena hosted its first live music concert in over two years this month and is expecting the bands Kansas and Blue Öyster Cult to come on November 8. Be sure to check out the Oshkosh Arena’s website for these and other fun and exciting live performances! For those that just aren’t ready to hang up their walking and running shoes, there is still time to help the Wisconsin Herd kick off their season with the Run with the Herd event this Sunday, October 26 or join the Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Inc. in their efforts to raise awareness of domestic abuse and services available in our community at their Take Back the Night event Wednesday, October 29. Don’t forget this week will be the last outdoor Farmers Market until next year. If you haven’t already shopped for your fall favorites, be sure to get there on Saturday! Check out these and all the other exciting events on our monthly podcast, online at Discover Oshkosh, or contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at (920) 236-5080. 7. UPDATES FROM THE OSHKOSH SENORS CENTER: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Oshkosh Seniors Center will be closed on Thursday, November 27. On Friday, November 28, only the North facility will be open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM for use of the Fox Fitness Center. Tickets for the Golden Tones Holiday Concert will go on sale for $5 each starting November 3, 2025. The concert is scheduled to take place in the North Building from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday, December 14. Tickets can be purchased at either of the OSC front desks. The Seniors Center has been experimenting with a new program, "Make and Take Simple Gift Ideas," which will be offered on Wednesday evenings from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM until November 5. The Center is excited to experiment with extended hours for this program to increase accessibility. The Oshkosh Seniors Center offers excellent facilities for rent for birthday parties, bridal or baby showers, retirement parties, meetings, and more. Please contact the Seniors Center Manager for details and to make a reservation. For details on the Seniors Center program and registration information, please visit the Seniors Services website. For more information, please contact Dan Braun, Senior Services Manager, at (920) 232-5300. 8. OSHKOSH CORPORATION TO HELP PLANT TREES IN LAKESHORE PARK: Oshkosh Corporation will volunteer to help plant 10 trees at Lakeshore Park on the afternoon of October 29th. They plan to plant a mix of oak, birch, willow, and American hornbeam to support the City of Oshkosh's reforestation effort in a section of the park, as outlined in the Lakeshore Park Master Plan. The area is on the west side of the park, located west of Oshkosh Corporation and east of Highway 41. For more information, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 9. NEW LANDSCAPING FEATURES AT RIVERSIDE CEMETERY CHAPEL: In early October, the entrance to the office and chapel at Riverside Cemetery received a complete landscape makeover. The previous centerpiece, a Japanese tree lilac, was aging, and several other plants had become unruly and overgrown. The new landscaping now features a Japanese maple and a variety of perennials, all bordered by a formal boxwood hedge that lines the perimeter. This update was designed to enhance the Chapel's beauty while improving maintenance efficiency. The chapel, which boasts beautiful stained-glass windows and two magnificent New landscaping at Riverside Cemetery paintings by local artist Gustav Behncke, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 10. OSHKOSH FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES: On Monday, October 13, 2025, retired PIO John Holland received the Career Safety Award from the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation. John was nominated by the Oshkosh Professional Firefighters, with whom he worked for a quarter century, and several members of the Oshkosh Fire Department were there as well. Congratulations John! On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, our very own Captain Scott Rasmussen was honored in Madison as First Responder of the Year for the 54th assembly district. Scott's work in developing the OFD peer support team and annual recognition dinner is sincerely appreciated. Congratulations, Capt. Razz! Finally, the new Oshkosh Fire Department Cadet Program is off to a strong start, and we’re excited to invite dedicated community members to join us as Fire Cadets in December. 11. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, consider becoming a member of one of the City’s citizen advisory boards, commissions, or committees. There are current openings on the following boards and commissions: Board of Review Board of Zoning Appeals Captain Rasmussen receives First Responder of the Year award. Retired PIO Holland receives Career Safety Award Landmarks Commission Long Range Finance Committee Plan Commission Transportation Committee To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, visit our boards and commissions webpage. If you have questions about current openings, the process of appointment, or need more information about a particular board, please contact the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, Kami Zuercher, by email (kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov) or call (920) 236-5002.