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(920) 236 FAX 3165-25080 (920) 23-
City of Oshkosh
Ray Maurer
Parks Department
Director
805 Witzel Ave., PO Box 1130
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130
June 17, 2014
Dear (Special Event Group):
This past January, the Oshkosh Common Council held a workshop to discuss the Special
Events Ordinance and Policy. A recommendation made at that workshop was for city staff and
the Advisory Park Board to consider establishing fees for special events that utilize city park
facilities.
The issue identified was that when large special events utilize city parks, the events
essentially eliminate the use of other park facilities/areas by city residents. For example,
when a large special event takes place at South Park or Menominee Park, the park is so
heavily utilized that we cannot rent out the park shelters so the city is effectively losing rental
revenue and residents have limited or no access to the park.
At their June 9, 2014 meeting, the Advisory Park Board had initial discussion regarding the
establishment of fees for special events that utilize city park facilities. An option the Board
considered, and a common way that other area municipalities handle this, is to require the
special event group to pay the daily rental for all the park facilities since the special event is
essentially consuming those rental areas. For example, a special event held in South Park on
a Saturday and Sunday would be required to pay the daily rental for the gazebo and three
park shelters each day of their event for a total fee of $440.
Gazebo: $45 X 2 days = $ 90
Shelter 1: $65 X 2 days = $130
Shelter 2: $55 X 2 days = $110
Shelter 3: $55 X 2 days = $110
$440
The Advisory Park Board will be discussing this issue further at their next meeting on Monday,
July 14, 2014 at 6:00 PM at City Hall Room 404. You are invited to share your questions or
comments.
Sincerely,
Ray Maurer
Parks Director
The Exceptional Parks Experience –
Committed to Purpose and People
Visit our website at http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us