Racine Mayor Pushes Back on Claims of Stalling Festival Park Agreement

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) – Racine Mayor Cory Mason is pushing back on claims that the city is delaying a contract renewal for the group that manages Festival Park, saying officials are still waiting on clear financial records from the operator.

Speaking Thursday on The Don Rosen Show, Mason said the city wants to extend its agreement with 5Kevents but cannot move forward without “reliable, verifiable numbers” detailing the group’s income and expenses.

“We’ve certainly seen more events, and that’s great,” Mason said, pointing to a revitalized lakefront that includes a farmers market, HarborFest and other programming. “But what we cannot get from 5K are actual discernible numbers about what their income is and what their costs are.”

5Kevents, which operates Festival Hall and Memorial Hall, said in a statement that it has returned more than $1 million to the city’s general fund and warned that its future, and the park’s, is at risk without a new agreement. The group is encouraging residents to contact city leaders in support of keeping current management in place.

Mason rejected suggestions that the city is jeopardizing events or planning major changes at the lakefront.

“Nobody’s threatening to make those events go away,” he said. “But we have a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers. I can’t write 5K a blank check.”

The mayor also disputed the group’s financial claims, saying the city cannot reconcile assertions of profitability with requests for additional subsidy.

“It can’t simultaneously be that they’re making more money than ever and they need more support from taxpayers,” Mason said.

City officials say they remain open to negotiations and are prepared to meet with 5Kevents, but stress that a contract will depend on full financial transparency.