Next time you visit Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay, you may catch a glimpse of the exciting new upgrades including a new pavilion with an outdoor fireplace and ADA-accessible patio seating, amongst other additions. These changes not only make visiting the park more enjoyable, but they also encourage accessibility.

“One way they’ll benefit the community is by providing greater access,” said Municipal Services Director Mike Barker, “the existing restrooms down there, before we did the upgrades, there was about a 5-inch step to get into the restrooms which was really a major blow to people who are having mobility issues.”

The restrooms now have a smooth, flat entry, and they also now feature Dyson hand dryers, which were installed as a green initiative to eliminate paper waste. While the city invested upwards of $800 for the dryers, the swap is saving them money in the long-run on paper products.
 

Visitors with wheelchairs or seated walkers can also now roll up to the new picnic tables to enjoy a meal with family and park goers can relax by the fireplace at the end of the pavilion and take in the sweeping views the area offers. A foot wash station was also installed, providing a space to wash off sand from visiting the park beach. While these changes have been welcoming, Barker said there are more plans in the works.

“We do have a proposed design for a new playground, and as long as everything goes well through the budget process, we would be able to do that next year,” he said.

Tentative plans include a specific area for older kids plus features for young children, including a mom and tot swing and a trolley system type of zip line. If approved, Barker said he hopes to have it installed by early July 2026.