Friends of Sunset Park · Kimberly, Wis.

Let your voice be heard.

The Village calls Sunset Park its "crown jewel." Residents asked for nature, trails, and improvements that celebrate the river. The current draft 20-year plan spends 81% of the money on turf fields, ballfield buildings, and parking. We're asking for a balanced approach, and the plan isn't final yet.

Take the Survey → See where the money goes
$19–21M
Price of the two draft concepts
81%
Goes to the sports complex (turf, ballfield buildings, parking)
<2%
Goes to anything on residents' top-priority list
548
Neighbors answered this summer's survey. Nature and trails topped it.
Open now Survey #2 is collecting feedback on the draft concepts. November: Plan Commission review (tentative) December: Village Board adoption goal
We were asked. Twice.

What Kimberly asked for

The Village surveyed residents in 2023 and again this summer. Both times, the answer pointed to the same place: the river, the woods, and the trails.

2026 survey: 548 neighbors

Word sizes follow the Village's own summary graphic. The Village's memo said natural area preservation and trail improvements reached "the top of the list." Source: July 20, 2026 Village Board packet (survey summary).

2023 survey: "We need more of this"

Share of respondents who said each facility needs "more in the future." Baseball/softball fields had the most "sufficient" answers (68%). Source: 2023 community survey, Appendix C of the 2024–2029 Outdoor Recreation Plan.

In residents' own words (2023)

"What happened to the Boardwalk & River overlook, Nature trails from the development?"
"More walking trails and easier access by the boat landing"
"Trails, especially Sunset park, need maintenance."

Source: written-in answers, 2023 community survey (Appendix C).

RESIDENTS' #1 PRIORITY (2023)
Take care of what we have
"Maintain existing facilities" ranked first more often than any other choice (40%). That includes the ballfields.
$19.1 to $21.4 million

What the draft plan actually buys

Both concepts split their construction money almost the same way. Switch between them to compare.

It wears out

Synthetic fields are typically resurfaced every 8 to 10 years, at roughly 60% of the original cost.

It runs hot

On summer afternoons, turf surfaces run far hotter than grass.

Paperfest gets harder

Turf rules usually ban tent stakes and grills, require plywood under stages, and charge for melted spots.

Built for a season, or for every season?

Typical seasons in northeast Wisconsin. Turf fields get used about half the year. A balanced park works every month.

3

permanent trash cans cover all 73 acres of Sunset Park, all of them in parking lots.

0

trail lights anywhere in the park.

1

drinking fountain for the whole park. Neither draft concept names a line item for more cans, lights, or fountains.

A balanced approach

What the same money could build

Keep Sunset Park great for sports: fix the fields and the failing ballfield buildings. Then balance the plan with the river, trails, and green space residents asked for.

A balanced Sunset Park: sports and the river

More time on the riverBenches and lookouts, building on the boat launch, kayak launch, and fishing pier we already have
Care for the wooded trails we haveFix eroded and muddy stretches, clear brush and invasive plants, and add trail maps and mile markers2023 survey: trails were among the facilities residents most often rated "needs improvement" or "poor" (23%).
Plugged into the trail networkNew loops tied into Papermill Run and Loop the Locks, with signs
Drinking water, trash cans, and lightingDrinking fountains and bottle fillers, trash cans, and lights along the trails and beach, not just in the parking lots"Drinking water" was one of the themes in the 2026 Village survey.About $1,500 per park trash can. Boston Parks
Four-season pavilionA new beach shelter that doubles as a winter warming house
Green space with a planShade trees protected from deer, native shoreline, restored woods
Lighted pickleball courtsA small footprint that draws every age, morning to nightAbout $500K for 8 lighted courts. Telulah Park, 2022
Fixed ballfield buildingsReplace the failing concession stands and press boxesAlready in the plan: $2.4M for a ballfield plaza with a community, concession, and restroom building. Village estimate

What other towns built

Signature parks and standout features, all for less than Kimberly's draft plan. Filter to compare.

For scale: one turf softball field in Kimberly's plan costs about $1.3 million. The whole sports complex runs about $15 million after contingency and fees.

Where things stand

The master plan timeline

The concepts are drafts. Public input is still open, and the Village says it "will directly shape" the final plan.

  1. Dec 2025
    Planner hiredVillage Board votes 7–0 to hire Rettler Corp. for $11,600.
  2. Apr 2026
    Sports user groups meetSchool district, youth baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse groups, plus the Fox Cities tourism bureau's sports director.
  3. May–Jun 2026
    Community survey #1548 responses. Nature, trails, and preservation top the list.
  4. Sept 21, 2026
    Concepts shown to the Village BoardDiscussion only, no vote.
  5. Now
    Survey #2 is openFeedback on the draft concepts. Take it here.
Read it yourself

The official documents

Everything here comes straight from the Village of Kimberly website.

FORM
Master Plan Survey #2The Village's survey on the draft concepts
 WEB
Village Park Planning pageAll master plan materials in one place
 PDF
Concept 1 site planRendering, Sept. 2026
 PDF
Concept 1 cost estimate$19.1M with contingency and fees
 PDF
Concept 2 site planRendering, Sept. 2026
 PDF
Concept 2 cost estimate$21.4M with contingency and fees
 PDF
Facilities analysisCondition of the park's buildings
 PDF
2024–2029 Outdoor Recreation PlanIncludes the 2023 survey (Appendix C)
 PDF
July 20, 2026 board packetSummer survey summary and word cloud
 PDF
Sept. 21, 2026 board packetConcepts and the Nov./Dec. timeline
Fair questions

FAQ

Isn't this anti-sports?

No. The Village's own building assessment says the old concession stands and press boxes need replacing, and they should be fixed. We're asking for balance: fix the ballfields, and make sure turf and parking don't take 81% of a 20-year plan for our largest riverfront park.

Isn't it already decided?

No. The two concepts are drafts. Survey #2 is open now, the Plan Commission reviews final concepts in November, and the Village Board aims to adopt the plan in December.

Who pays for this?

The Village plans to phase projects over 5 to 20 years and pursue grants. Trails, river access, and natural areas are exactly the kinds of projects state park grants are built to fund.

What's wrong with synthetic turf?

It can make sense for a busy athletic field. But it gets resurfaced every 8 to 10 years at a big cost, it runs hot in summer, and it restricts events. Turf rules usually ban tent stakes and grills and require plywood under stages, which matters for Paperfest.

Does the plan include anything residents asked for?

A little. A play area and some walkway connections, under 2% of construction costs. Neither concept names a line item for more trash cans, trail lighting, or trail connections.

Who are Friends of Sunset?

Kimberly residents who love Sunset Park. We're not part of the Village or any organization. Every number here comes from Village documents, linked above. If you spot a mistake, send us a note and we'll fix it.

Before the plan is final

Get involved

1

Take the survey

It takes a few minutes. Tell the Village what you want for Sunset Park.

Take the Survey

forms.gle/8zpfrGTMt83FUcqi8

2

Contact the trustees

Reach out before the Plan Commission review in November. The Village Clerk can connect you.

Village Clerk: (920) 788-7500

3

Speak at public comment

Village Board meets most Mondays at 5 p.m., 515 W. Kimberly Ave. Anyone can speak during public comment.

Plan Commission agendas
Say hello

Contact us

Questions, ideas, a correction, or want to help hand out flyers? Send a note. It goes only to the neighbors who run this site, and we never share it.