Appleton, WI Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Section 13-4 lists the activities the city treats as requiring advance authorization before use of a park or Special Use Area, and subsection (b) puts public meetings, assemblies, entertainment, tournaments or speeches on that list alongside exclusive or extended use beyond casual play, aircraft operations, overnight camping, and use of sound amplification equipment. The section's opening paragraph states these activities are prohibited in parks and in Special Use Areas without a permit, and that other permits or permissions may also be required beyond the park permit itself, such as a Health Officer noise variance under Section 12-83 for an amplified event.

If the Director denies a permit application, Section 13-4 gives the applicant a right to appeal to the committee of jurisdiction, which under Section 13-1(a) means the Parks and Recreation Committee or the Utilities Committee depending on which body has authority over the area requested. Once a permit is granted, Section 13-7 lets that committee set fees for use or reservation of any park, Special Use Area, or portion of one, with fee schedules kept on file and available on request from the Parks and Recreation Department; Section 13-7(c) separately makes it unlawful to use a fee area without first paying.

Special event organizers should also budget for Section 13-5, which prohibits dogs at special events, including on the sidewalks, trails and roads inside the event footprint, unless the event organizer and city preapprove them.