Oshkosh parks survey shows strong satisfaction; board recommends CIP priorities focused on restrooms, trails, playgrounds and phased Reeds work

A city consultant presented results from a March Polco survey of roughly 483 respondents and staff field assessments, telling the Parks Advisory Board that about 90% of respondents live in Oshkosh and that overall park satisfaction was high.

The consultant said 33% of respondents reported being "very satisfied" and 53% "somewhat satisfied," a combined 88% positive rating. Respondents most often listed Menominee Park, South Park and Rainbow and Red Arrow parks as places they visit. The survey grouped top amenity priorities as restrooms, paved trails/riverwalk development, picnic areas, playground equipment, off‑leash dog options and fishing piers; recurring comment themes included requests for more pickleball courts, expanded natural areas, additional trash pickup and improved signage and web information.

Board and staff discussion emphasized that the survey results align with capital improvement planning (CIP) priorities. Staff recommended focusing on near‑term, two‑year priorities (2025–26) while acknowledging larger, multi‑million‑dollar projects may require phased approaches or external grant funding. Examples discussed included phased work at the REITs complex (redoing a single diamond and upgrading lighting/fencing in the near term) and holding off on major Rainbow Memorial Park restroom investment until adjacent intersection work is completed.

Staff noted some specific project proposals for 2025: playground replacements and court resurfacing (with added pickleball courts where feasible), LED marquee replacement for the Leach Amphitheatre, annual park‑trail maintenance allotments, riverwalk bollard light replacements and a placeholder for South Park splash‑pad repair or replacement. Staff also flagged Millers Bay dredging as a potential long‑term, high‑cost item (staff estimated $5 million on the low side) and said Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant opportunities appeared limited based on prior conversations.

The consultant and staff outlined next steps: two rounds of redline reviews for the master-plan draft, staff recommendations for park‑level CIP items, and a subsequent board presentation before materials are forwarded to the city council for final budgeting and adoption.

Ending: The board endorsed the planning approach and recommended the prioritized CIP package to the city council for consideration; staff will return with draft revisions and park‑specific recommendations as the next procedural steps.