Latest news with #HistoryMuseumattheCastle
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Winnebago County public forum on UWO, Fox Cities Campus, future set for June 25 in Menasha
OSHKOSH – Community members will have a chance to shape the future of the UW-Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus. Winnebago County will host a public forum June 25 seeking community input as the county prepares to take over ownership of the 43-acre campus at 1455 Midway Road, Menasha, on July 1. The forum is scheduled to run 5:30-7:30 p.m. on campus grounds and will seek the public's ideas 'regarding the future prospects for reinvigorating, repurposing, and redeveloping the buildings and outdoor spaces.' Read more: Oshkosh legislators to continue pursuit of full Municipal Services Payment program funding 'Considering the deep connections that many in the community have to the programs and facilities housed within the campus, this public forum offers the opportunity to share ideas regarding the county's direction forward on the site,' the county wrote in a recent statement. The facility's future has been in doubt since last June when UW-Oshkosh announced it was closing the Fox Cities campus at the end of the school year as a result of enrollment decline. Both Winnebago and Outagamie counties previously owned the land and its facilities before Outagamie County terminated its ownership agreement and agreed to terms of sale with Winnebago County. The Weis Earth Science Museum collection is being donated to the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton while the Menasha Joint School District is set to operate the University Childcare Center. The campus also includes the Barlow Planetarium, Communication Arts Center theater and gallery, and a branch campus building for UW-Platteville. Read more: What should be on your Oshkosh bucket list? Here's our guide to the 8 best things to do this summer. The Fox Cities facility is the sixth University of Wisconsin campus to shut its doors amid budgetary issues and declining enrollment following the decisions to close UW-Platteville Richland, UW-Milwaukee at Washington County, UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac, UW-Green Bay Marinette and UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha. Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@ and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville. This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Winnebago County to host public forum on future of Fox Cities Campus
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Weis Earth Science Museum could be on move after Winnebago County approves resolution
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – We're getting a better idea of what the future of the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities campus will look like, but not everybody loves what they're hearing. On Tuesday night, Winnebago County supervisors approved a resolution to buy Outagamie County's share of the UWO Fox Cities campus. The two counties have jointly operated the campus for decades, but the imminent closure of the campus for higher education purposes has created lots of uncertainty. Under the terms of the new agreement, Winnebago County must use the campus for a 'public use' for two years. The Barlow Planetarium, performing arts center, childcare center and other assets would continue to operate on campus. Kaukauna shuts out Fond Du Lac, stays perfect on season Winnebago County officials will buy Outagamie County's share of the campus for $1. 'Looking at the number of cultural assets that there are and the division of them we're coming out way farther ahead than I thought we were going to,' said Winnebago County supervisor John Hinz. Outagamie County would take control of the Weis Earth Science Museum and move it inside the History Museum at the Castle in downtown Appleton. It's this part of the agreement that many people don't like. 'The residents of the Fox Valley and Winnebago County aren't served by sequestering the contents of the earth science museum into a museum of history,' said Cindy Duckert during the public comment section of the meeting. 'I believe its current configuration and setup are best served for the community around that area,' said UWO geology student Jonah Habeck. 'To move it would be harmful to that process, which I think is quite unnecessary.' Weis Earth Science Museum officials have a petition filled with hundreds of signatures from people who also oppose this move. They also have received dozens of letters from other geology museums and higher education geology programs expressing support for the Weis Earth Science Museum staying put. Weis Earth Science Museum officials said the museum has thrived in its current location. They also believe that being next to the Barlow Planetarium is important because the close proximity helps draw visitors who want to hit two spots on the same day. History Museum at the Castle officials assure residents that they will take good care of the Weis Earth Science Museum exhibits. 'I understand those concerns, change is always hard,' said History Museum at the Castle executive director Dustin Mack. 'The reason we got involved was to offer a path forward for the Weis.' Green Bay to double parking ramp rates during NFL Draft 'I think the whole thing is ridiculous, we shouldn't be in this situation,' said Don Mikulic who is a curator for the Weis Earth Science Museum. 'These are plans that were developed in secret. Outagamie County last week had a secret meeting. If they were interested in the benefit of the community and what's fair and reasonable behavior they would have involved people immediately.' Outagamie County supervisors will have to approve the terms of the agreement at a future meeting for this to become official. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
