Oshkosh parks staff report 2023 attendance, sponsorships and volunteer support across facilities

Parkway Park staff presented the citys 2023 facilities revenue and participation report, highlighting sponsorships, volunteer contributions and attendance across multiple venues.

Powell Community Waterpark received a $5,000 donation from Winnebago Community Credit Union to cover special events, camps and new yoga programming; staff reported roughly 38,455 visitors at the waterpark and 859 special-events participants. The Leach Amphitheater reported about $15,250 in sponsorships that support Tuesday-night concerts and described a shift from six smaller concerts to three larger concerts to increase attendance.

Childrens Amusement Center sponsorships totaled $2,106 with $300 in donations; the center recorded 10,601 train-ride participants and 552 water-equipment participants. Menominee Park Zoo staff said sponsorships and community partners supported major events (Birds on the Bay, Zooloween, Breakfast with the Bunny) and that a new zoo education coordinator expanded programming to roughly three sessions a day; staff reported about 14,943 special-event participants and 90,457 visitors in 2023. Staff noted some events were held off-site this year because of Menominee Park construction and said those attendance numbers would return when onsite events resume.

Staff repeatedly credited volunteers for enabling events and cited volunteer-hour values and sponsorship donations as critical to running programs and covering costs. Several staff members and board members praised the work of volunteers and named specific community partners.

Staff closed the review with general thanks for volunteer efforts and said they expect to continue current programming and to bring facility updates to future board meetings.