Park & Recreation Commission Item

Lake Ann Park continued to serve as a popular destination for swimming, watercraft rentals, concessions and community events during the 2026 summer season. The concession stand and watercraft rental facility operated from May 23 through August 16, with two full-day weather closures and approximately seven additional early closures due to forecasted conditions.

+ $39,136.33 Total Daily Sales (W/ Tax)

- $  3,190.22  Total Sales Tax

- $  2,716.80  Sanborn Canoe Company Paddleboard Payment

- $  1,064.98  Square Transaction Fees

$32,164.33  Total Revenue

The city continued its paddleboard rental partnership with Sanborn Canoe Company (formerly Grey Duck Outdoor), providing eight paddleboards for public use. Under the agreement, the city retains 70% of paddleboard rental revenue and pays Sanborn 30%. Paddleboards were rented 402 times in 2026, compared with 404 in 2025. Paddleboard rental revenue totaled $9,056.00, resulting in a $2,716.80 payment to Sanborn Canoe Company.

Other watercraft rental activity included:

• Paddleboats: 262 (2025) to 265 (2026)
• Canoes: 44 to 48; single kayaks: 104 to 78; tandem kayaks: 65 to 92; rowboats with trolling motors: 91 to 42
• Total watercraft rentals: 970 (2025) to 927 (2026)

The concession stand experienced strong sales across several product categories during the 2026 season. Hot dogs remained a popular item with 689 sold, an increase from 673 in 2025. Other top-selling items included chips (584), Freezie Pops (331), Ring Pops (295), Airheads (291), SpongeBob Popsicles (290) and ice cream sandwiches (283).

For the 2026 season, staff implemented several concession price adjustments after multiple years of consistent pricing. Hot dogs and soda increased from $2.50 to $3.00; small popcorn from $1.00 to $1.50; large popcorn from $1.50 to $2.00; and select candy and ice cream items also increased. These adjustments were intended to better reflect product and operating costs while maintaining affordable options for park visitors. Prices remained unchanged for chips, Ring Pops, Airheads and Boba Tonka Bubble Tea. Watercraft rental rates also remained at $15 or $20 per hour, depending on the watercraft. The price adjustments were one factor in the season’s financial performance alongside visitor demand, weather and purchasing patterns.

Weather affected operations throughout the season. The facility closed for two full days and closed early on approximately seven additional days due to forecasted conditions. These interruptions reduced available operating hours and opportunities for concession purchases and watercraft rentals.

Staff continued to offer waterfront programming in 2026. Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Yoga ran once out of eight scheduled sessions, with two participants. Paddleboarding 101 ran once out of two scheduled sessions, with five participants. These offerings provided additional ways for visitors to enjoy Lake Ann, although participation in SUP Yoga remained limited.

To better serve Spanish-speaking community members, staff introduced a Spanish-language concession menu that alternated with the English menu. Spanish-language watercraft rental forms were also added to make the rental process more accessible to visitors.

Concessions Manager Mollie Yanda did an excellent job overseeing daily operations during her first season in the position. She demonstrated responsibility and strong organization in managing supply orders, communicating needs in a timely manner, preparing staff schedules and coordinating with seasonal employees. Her work helped support a successful season despite the normal challenges that arise in a new supervisory role.

Looking ahead, staff will continue reviewing watercraft rental trends, concession sales, seasonal programming participation and opportunities to improve accessibility and operations.