We are excited to announce the 2nd Annual Wildflowers on the Water gathering on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 3-7PM at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee, WI featuring the founder and visionary of Illustrious Creative Works & Sincerely in Song, Sarah Fierek. Additional artists and vendors will be announced soon.
Last year, the 1st Annual Wildflowers on the Water gathering was produced as Sarah Fierek released her song “Wildflowers“.
Each song released is paired with a non-profit cause or movement to “brandraise” and fundraise. Hosting events focused on earned media and partnerships to unite our community with the music we write, “Sincerely in Song” is committed to supporting impactful causes. Each song released inspires the community at large to join in the movement of each song’s flight.
Uplift, inspire and amplify non-profit causes and movements that better our world with our songs, voices and likeness of our brand.
Sincerely in Song
Thank you Sarah Fierek for supporting the mission of Friends of Lakeshore State Park with the song “Wildflowers”. Learn more about Fierek’s mission here.
Plastic Free MKE
It started in 2018 with a group of citizens concerned about plastic pollution. Today, Plastic Free MKE (PFM) is a nationally recognized coalition that is working to make Milwaukee and its neighborhoods plastic free. Suffice to say, that’s an enormous task!
From the beginning, Plastic Free MKE found great partners in the Urban Ecology Center, and with Milwaukee Riverkeepers; the latter is now a partner and driving force with funding and staff. Together they have been able to grow their influence and make an impact in reducing single plastic usage in Milwaukee. One big way has been through Plastic Free’s water jug initiative.
The problem with plastics is they don’t break down, instead they break up and end up living in our environment. Plastic throw-away water bottles are a huge contributor to the problem. Seeing how water bottles were being used during the protests and marches in the summer of 2020, Plastic Free MKE took action. Using five-gallon jugs and volunteers on bikes, they offered free water so people could refill their plastic bottles instead of tossing them away. Since then, PFM has provided free water refilling stations (upon request) to events throughout the city. When funding allows, they also give out free reusable water bottles. Their efforts have paid off: the coalition estimates they have prevented 6500 single use bottles in just four years.
“It’s important to see how plastic affects our environment,” says Gabrielle de Gail, the Sustainability Coordinator with Plastic Free MKE. “It affects our waters, and it affects our health. It all ties together—it’s affecting wildlife, it’s polluting our lake.” 22 million pounds of plastic enters the Great Lakes yearly, 50% of it in Lake Michigan. Our rivers are also affected: 85% of fish pulled from the Milwaukee River have plastics in their digestive tract. We also see the problem firsthand at Lakeshore State Park where trash bins at park entrances are filled with single use bottles, straws and containers, and litter dots the landscape, ready to be picked up by the birds and wildlife that frequent the park.
Awareness, hopefully, brings action and to help with both, Plastic Free MKE developed its Lake Friendly Programto work with businesses and neighborhoods, such as the Historic Sherman Park on Milwaukee’s northwest side, to embrace plastic free. The program ties in beautifully with the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office which aims to make Milwaukee a world class eco-city.
Progress is being made. The City of Milwaukee now has a law that prevents restaurants, bars and cafes from automatically giving plastic straws to customers. It’s only upon request. And there is a Styrofoam ban for vendors doing business on county property. Now, Plastic Free MKE would love to see Milwaukee contract with a reusable food-ware company to provide reusable cups and containers for entertainment venues, festivals and events. Or better yet, to develop its own system.
“If you try to focus on all plastics,” explains de Gail, “it’s impossible. So, our focusing on single-use plastics is really key. And that’s where you see the pollution.”
Check out Plastic Free MKE’s website for additional information, including public webinars and education toolkits, and to see how you can join in the cause.
That’s Plastic Free MKE volunteer Kristin Walters underneath all those plastic bags!
Spring Membership Drive
It’s launch time for this year’s Friends Membership Campaign! We invite you to support our wonderful urban gem on the lake and enjoy all it has to offer.
2023 Highlights
Purchased 1,000+ native plant plugs and the mulch and equipment needed to install them
Recruited volunteers to help with spring plantings, pathway gravel installation, and stewardship to help combat invasive plants
Raised funds to pay for three new picnic tables
Awarded a Greater Milwaukee Foundation grant to fund a seasonal Park Educator and Intern
In partnership with Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, funded new plant signage and an educational program with Schlitz Audubon’s Eagle & Friends
Successfully hosted the second annual Brunch on the Beach
Successfully hosted the first annual Wild Flowers On The Water Festival
Sponsored Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile for a second year
Installed signage to educate visitors on the park solitary bee houses
2024 Plans
Support a season park educator and an intern $27,000
Add gravel and seating to improve the kid’s prairie area $5,000
Replace circulators to prevent ice at marina (3 plus a spare) $4,228
Purchase a bird management laser for geese control $3,500
Matching funds for a DNR Incentive Grant to promote education in the park $900
Support local music in the park at Brunch By the Beach $700
Support local music and dance at Wildflowers On The Water, sponsorship levels starting from $250
For more information about our plans for 2024, please email us at admin@friendslsp.org
Please consider making a donation below today!
Park Pal Memberships Individual: $25 Family: $50Prairie Patron Memberships Rock Prairie: $100 Fox Prairie: $250 Kid’s Prairie: $500 Big Prairie: $1,000
Thank you! to the following members who recently joined or renewed:William Johnson Kate Freed Nancy Grainer
Pollinators in the Park
Summer brings warmer days with flowers, butterflies and bumble bees, and evenings made magical by fireflies. Lakeshore State Park provides these simple natural joys right on the shores of Lake Michigan. A new flower blooms or new insect buzzes here every day. Seemingly random, these occurrences are naturally orchestrated.
The habitat created at the park mimics a short grass prairie with native flowers and grasses with few trees. Native flowers bloom at various times of the season, attracting insects with nectar for sustenance, and the insects in turn pollinate the plants. These symbiotic relationships between the native plants and insects ensure successful reproduction for all involved.
One of the first to flower at the park is Prairie Smoke. Their pink flowers start out facing downwards at a height perfect for awakening bumble bee queens. After pollination, the flowers turn upright and unfurl their feathery blossoms in a smokey display. Next to bloom are Golden Alexanders, attracting tiny native bees which gather nectar and spread pollen plant to plant..
Ann Duffy leading a guided hike in the park. Photo by Eddee Daniel
Most bees are solitary, not living in hive colonies like non-native honey bees do. There are over 400 species of bees native to Wisconsin, many which can be found in the park including sweat, mason and leaf cutter bees. Ants, butterflies, and small birds and mammals can be pollinators too, and at night, moths and fireflies pollinate as well!
A concern of late is the decline of insects. Without them, we would have virtually no plants. And without plants, we would lose almost 50% of our food sources. Habitat loss and degradation and the overuse of pesticides are main factors causing dwindling insect populations. The average yard with a monoculture of non-native grass, decorated sparsely with non-native flowers and shrubs, provides little habitat for pollinators.
What can be done to help? Planting native flowers and grasses in our yards would provide a variety of beautiful, native habitat where native pollinators can thrive. In turn, the pollinators would help the native plants, thus freeing one to spend less time and effort maintaining a yard and more time enjoying the great outdoors!”
June 2024 Newsletter
We Have More Prairie Plants!
Over a few days in May, DNR staff and dozens of volunteers planted more than 1,200 native plant plugs in the park prairies. Recent soaking rains have helped these plants root into the hard soil – come to the park to see beautiful blooms as the plants mature! Many thanks to Friends of Lakeshore State Park volunteers and donors for their generosity – the prairies would not be the same without you!
Photos with DNR and Prairie Pal volunteers from the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee. The Prairie Pals were recently awarded the Wisconsin Civic Achievement Awardgiven by the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation – congratulations Prairie Pals!
Volunteers are very welcome to help in the prairies June 11th and 25th 10AM-12PM, and alternate Tuesdays through October
Upcoming Events
All events meet at park north entrance near Discovery World, unless otherwise indicated
Jun 1: Free Fishing Weekend Fishing Clinic, 1:00-3:00PM Jun 4: Wildflowers on the Water happy hour kickoff, 4:00-6:00PM Wantable Cafe, 123 E Walker St. Jun 7: Bike Week Commuter Station, 7:30-10:00AM in front of Discovery World Jun 15: Prairie Hike, 10:00-11:00AM. Jun 16: Father’s Day Fishing, 2:00-3:30PM Meet at the fishing pier Jun 18: Summer Solstice Hike, 7:00-8:00PM Jun 19: Bubble Hike, 5:00-6:00PM Jun 19: Beach Bonfire, 6:00-8:30PM Meet at Pebble Beach Jun 22: Invasive Species Awareness Day, 9:00AM-12:00PM Meet at the fishing pier Jun 27: Pride Month Hike, 6:00-7:00PM
Jul 7: Brunch By the Beach with Food Trucks and Music 10:00AM-2:00PM Jul 24 : Bonfire with Smores 6:00-8:30PM Aug 21: Bonfire with Smores, Lakefront Beer and Food Truck 6:00-8:30PM Sep 7: Wildflowers on the Water – Music, Food and Art 3:00-7:00PM Sep 18: Bonfire with Smores 5:30-730PM
Our park educators offer a wide variety of programs for both kids and adults, such as fishing clinics (no license required for children 15 and under) and events that focus on nature education and exploration, all designed to be hands-on and family-friendly.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper Cleanup a Success
At first glance, our park may look quite clean.
Upon closer inspection though, one might find many plastic bottles and smaller trash such as microplastics in some areas. This trash negatively impact park wildlife and water quality. Thanks to our partnership with Milwaukee Riverkeeper and the support of our volunteers, our park is kept cleaner for all.
Our most recent cleanup was completed on a brisk and sunny April 20th, when 23 volunteers and the DNR got together and collected 17 bags of trash! Afterwards, several of us celebrated the day with other partner organizations and volunteers at Rock The Green. Thank you Riverkeeper, the DNR and volunteers!
Water quality impacts people, plants, and animals. Many species of birds frequent the park, including high numbers of Canada Geese. The geese feed on grass in the park, leaving excrement which negatively impacts water quality and the experience of over 450,000 annual visitors.
Thanks to a generous grant from Fund For Lake Michigan, FLSP will contract Migratory Bird Management to spray Flight Control® Plus, a non-toxic spray which deters goose populations from taking up residence in the park. Visitor experience will be enhanced through fewer goose droppings, enabling park patrons to walk freely and enjoy clean, green spaces. Thank you Fund For Lake Michigan!
Bird City Milwaukee
It’s not only winter-worn Milwaukee residents who flock to the lakefront and parks as May rolls around. Birds do too. And lots of them!
One reason is that Milwaukee is situated in the Mississippi Flyway. And, as Bird City Milwaukee notes, we have over six miles of lakefront and more than 250 hotspots scattered around the area. That’s a big draw for birds throughout the year. And it’s why having safe and bird-friendly environments is so important.
Bird City Milwaukee (BCW), a member of Bird City Wisconsin since 2012, is dedicated to doing just that. It provides education and support to help communities establish and maintain good bird habitats. During its initial years in Milwaukee, BCW was spearheaded by the Urban Ecology Center (EUC), but gradually the management is being turned over to Visit Milwaukee. As Tim Vargo of the Urban Ecology Center explains, the hope is that under the helm of Visit Milwaukee, Bird City will become “a networking/communication/marketing hub and a go-to place for anybody who wants to know what is happening in Milwaukee any month.”
To get involved with Bird City Milwaukee, check out its website, social media and Facebook pages. And UEC’s Vargo suggests people can also support the Bird City cause by simply going on a bird walk. If you’re a newcomer to birding, not to worry. “So many groups love it when new birders come because it’s sharing their passion,” Vargo says. “My suggestion is to get out with someone who can be a mentor and just do it over and over again. The first couple of times it might feel overwhelming but the more you do it, the easier it will be.”
A networking/communication/marketing hub and a go-to place for anybody who wants to know what is happening in Milwaukee any month.
Tim Vargo
May is a great month to get started. Not only is it prime migration season—May 11th is World Migration Day—it’s when the annual Brew City Bird Fest is held! The Urban Ecology Center will be avian central for the fest, May 10-17, offering a variety of cheep fun and informative events, including morning bird walks; a Bird in Arts program; and a Keynote Lecture—Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders by Tiffany Kiersten. A full listing of activities can be found on the Urban Ecology Center website.
The Friends of Lakeshore State Park will also be celebrating World Migration Day with a Bird Hike for all ages on Friday, May 10th at 9:30 a.m. Come join us as we search the skies and shore for some of our favorite species. Check our events page for details.
Birds love our city. By supporting Bird City Milwaukee, you can give them a little love them back.
On April 5th, the installation of a new purple martin bird house was completed. The house is in the same location on the north end of the park just south of the bridge as the previous house. The house was generously donated by Katie and Doug Fisher. The installation took part in stages and was completed by DNR personnel and volunteers.
Some interesting facts about the installation:
The recommended height for a purple martin houses is 10 – 20 feet
The house weighs about 72 lbs.
An existing steel tube in the ground with a 2” inside diameter was re-used
A Schedule 40 steel plumbing pipe was used that fit into the existing tube.
Volunteer engineers designed the system to withstand 100 mph gusts
Purple martins exhibit site fidelity and they are back! (as seen in photo at top of page)
