LAKESHORE STATE PARK THEN, NOW AND MOVING FORWARD

By Laurie Arendt

Photography by Eric Halverson

To call Lakeshore State Park one of the state’s unique spaces is, in many ways, an understatement. A committed group of volunteers, the Department of Natural Resources, and Mother Nature have all worked together to transform a manmade pile of rocky debris into a lakeside prairie that hosts more than 480,000 visitors annually.

Born from the limestone and dolomite borings of Milwaukee’s ‘70s-era Deep Tunnel project, and later topsoil from the reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange, Lakeshore State Park is Wisconsin’s only urban state park. Its nearly 22 acres of open space includes walking trails, a watercraft beach, fishing areas and boat slips. It also connects to the Hank Aaron and Oak Leaf trails, which provide a convenient connecting point for active Third Ward residents to explore Milwaukee and beyond.

This space is unique on many levels, and its evolution is ongoing, says Dave Wenstrup, president of Friends of Lakeshore State Park, a non-profit organization that partners with the DNR to support this urban oasis. From raising funds to getting their hands in the dirt, Friends members are engaged on multiple levels.

According to Wenstrup, successful management of this park balances the needs of all visitors, from those with feathers, fins and four legs to two-legged and rollerbladed.

“Managing user interests and supporting wildlife is always a balancing act; it’s the primary reason that visitors see a mix of mowed turf areas and prairie,” he says. “If managed solely for habitat and supporting wildlife, the prairies would be expanded until no turf remained. If managed solely for recreational use, the prairies would diminish and turf would take their place.”

In short, decisions are made by park staff with consideration of the impacts to both people and habitat in all management actions. While there are mowed turf areas, significant thought fuels the continued development of the site’s prairies and reeded areas for wildlife. Volunteers help with the planting and maintenance tasks, which helps maintain the park’s ecosystem.

Its role within the Milwaukee community also is a priority. It provides an easily accessible natural area for people to enjoy close to downtown and hosts special events, such as the Dragon Boat Festival and USA Triathlon. The Friends of Lakeshore State Park also host events onsite, such as Brunch By the Beach, which offers food trucks, music and a chance for people to come together and enjoy the lakefront park together.

“LAKESHORE STATE PARK PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EDUCATION AND EQUITY,” ADDS WENSTRUP. “THE DNR PARTNERS WITH MPS, MMSD AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER 125 + EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, MANY WHO COME FROM UNDERSERVED PARTS OF THE CITY.”

Although the decades-old park plan originally called for on-site facilities, the project lacked funding and a building was never constructed. The lack of restrooms, water and a facility has not hampered the park’s popularity — but it remains a needed enhancement. The Friends of Lakeshore State Park are focused on renewed efforts to build a Visitor Center, a long-planned project that was gaining traction prior to the pandemic but was once again postponed.

“About 10 years ago, our Friends group started to take on this project,” says Wenstrup, who says a TKWA-designed facility was specifically created for integrating into the lakefront environment. “Now the same community members who heard how important this project is to Milwaukee and the surrounding area are again beginning to move ahead. We’ve been confirming project support, and thoughtfully considering the plan to assess if needs have changed since the original planning pre-Covid.”

In addition to needed restroom facilities, the Center would increase access to environmental education programs and improve access to nature for families and individuals of all abilities and backgrounds, says Wenstrup.

In the meantime, Lakeshore State Park will continue to be the gem on the shore, a welcome, natural space for Third Ward residents and visitors to enjoy the best nature has to offer.

Visiting the Park this summer? Scan this code for a full list of events or to become a Friend of Lakeshore State Park, or visit friendslsp.org.