In 2026, Definitely De Pere will focus on events and activation.
Downtown De Pere continued to grow in 2025 with new development projects and business acquisitions. Now, Tina Quigley, executive director of Definitely De Pere, says it’s time to activate all the spaces and host more events to increase downtown visitor numbers. At the beginning of the year, Quigley was interviewing candidates and hiring an event manager.
“We are looking to add another signature event,” she said.
Quigley said the downtown area is vibrant, with a mix of businesses including retail stores, boutiques, restaurants and personal and professional services.
“We want more people experiencing downtown,” Quigley said. “So we want to give them more reasons to come.”
The district hosts several events throughout the year, which continue to draw visitors. But in addition to the weekly farmers market, the wine walks and foodie walks, Quigley wants to activate other public places.
Voyageurs Park and the Urban Forest Walkaway are hubs for future events
Back in 2025, Quigley had thought about doing more at Voyageurs Park and the Fox River Trail. With a new staff member focused on events, there will be more opportunities and ideas.
The Urban Forest Walkaway, 415 Main Ave., a public art project funded by $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the City of De Pere, was unveiled in August. Quigley said this year, there will be a program for it and for the Art Alley, 331 Main Ave., between Nicky’s and Gyro’s Kabob.
“We didn’t just do this art installation for it to sit there,” Quigley said.
The strategy, she said, is to create a weekly event and then a monthly event, which will be announced later in the year. This will help bring more people regularly to the downtown.
“If you give people reasons to come, they’ll come,” Quigley said.
New development projects expected to boost growth
De Pere’s first public parking ramp, a 224-stall structure at 224 N. Wisconsin St. on the site of the former Shopko store, is expected to be completed in June. Construction on the parking ramp began following a groundbreaking ceremony in January.
The former Shopko property has been divided into multiple developments including the parking ramp, 60 apartment units at 550 William St. and additional retail space. Quigley said this will increase the number of visitors and residents in the area.
The redevelopment also includes the TownePlace Suites hotel, which broke ground in August 2025 and is expected to open in September 2026.
“This shows how much interest there is from investors,” Quigley said. “This will make our downtown even more amazing.”
Quigley said she expects to see some news in other locations in the district. One of these locations is the historic building at 100 S. Broadway, which caught fire in 2019 and was later sold.
“We know something is coming on that block,” she said.
Ariel Perez is a business reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach him at APerez1@gannett.com or view his X profile at @Ariel_Perez85.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Definitely De Pere to add ‘another signature event’
Reporting by Ariel Perez, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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