As we move into mid/late April, watch for prairie smoke starting to emerge and bloom in the northernmost prairies.

Prairie smoke has wonderful pink flowers, that once pollinated will produce a fuzzy seed head that resembles the look and feel of the hair on the 1980’s Troll dolls. They are some of our earliest risers at Lakeshore, and only bloom for a short period of time. The first tree swallows are also starting to make their way back to the nesting boxes for the spring, as some of our winter birds migrate out.

Interested in volunteering? The Wisconsin State Park System recently launched a new way to communicate volunteer opportunities throughout the state. To stay in the loop on upcoming invasive species removal dates, prairie planting days in late May, long-term opportunities, and special volunteer projects, please visit  MyImpactPage – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (betterimpact.com) to sign up for Lakeshore State Park!  Additional dates for public volunteer events will be added as staff returns for the season.

Do you have a large group looking to help?

We are in need of a group of ~20 volunteers later this summer (once the weather is a bit warmer) to help us finish painting the Harbor railing at our south entrance. If your group may have interest, please contact Angela Vickio to discuss possible dates.

While we are typically ready to re-open our fishing pier for the season, the pier sustained some storm damage this winter, causing some of the pilings that hold it in place to fail. The Department is currently exploring options for a longer-term solution for this issue, and we will provide an update when we are able to re-open it to use. We will still continue to lead fishing clinics starting in May again this year, just at an alternate location on the property.

Speaking of events, we’ve got our first ones for the season coming up in April! We’ll have many more as the weather warms but mark your calendars for the following early season hikes. All hikes listed below will start at the north entrance, just west of Discovery World.

Upcoming Events

• Friday, 4/8 from 6-7pm: Bird Hike
• Saturday, 4/16 from 10-11am: Sensing Spring
• Saturday, 4/30 from 10-11: Prairie Phenology Hike

Angela Vickio
Angela.Vickio@wisconsin.gov.

Year after year, more native grasses and flowering plants take root at Lakeshore State Park and fewer invasive plants thrive.

That’s not by accident!

Prairie restoration requires constant diligence – and digging and planting. Without volunteers to do this work, the thistle and Queen Anne’s lace might still be winning.

The Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club’s “Prairie Pals” are an essential part of that effort. Beginning with the park’s annual spring planting, the club musters volunteers who regularly put on their gardening gloves and get to work.

“We’re so fortunate to have the club’s involvement,” said David Wenstrup, Friends of Lakeshore State Park President. “Consistent, dedicated effort is what it takes to do this work, and they’re fully committed to the mission.” After David helped the group out a few times, he decided to become a Garden Club member himself.

Anyone is welcome to join the Prairie Pals starting May 5 and continuing every other Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. as they fill bag after bag with invasive weeds. You can come whenever you like, and you don’t have to be a Garden Club member – see the Park Supervisor Update for how to register to volunteer.

Helen Dahms and Grant Kniedler, who coordinate the Lakeshore State Park volunteers for the Garden Club, say that gardeners understand how important native species are for migratory birds, insects and other wildlife. But the volunteers benefit, too. “It’s a wonderful way to get some fresh air and camaraderie and also do some public service,” says Helen.

Grant calls it “a nice chance to be social in a productive way,” and he’s proud to have a role in sustaining a beautiful place. “I think it’s important to create a pleasant environment for the citizens of Milwaukee.”

“It is just such a beautiful setting.  To go down there and have the lake, the Summerfest grounds, the city skyline and the art museum — you can’t beat it.”

Helen Dahms

Garden Club members have been volunteering at Lakeshore State Park since 2018, coming from throughout the metro Milwaukee area to help. Some have their own gardens at home, and others are apartment-dwellers who appreciate an opportunity to work in the soil.

The Deadline Is April 1!

Sometimes it’s the little things that count, like offering someone a place to sit and rest. What if you could offer this gift almost year-round and in a beautiful environment?

Sponsoring a bench or picnic table at Lakeshore State Park is a way to do just that.

The deadline for submitting a sponsorship application for tables and benches is April 1. Locations for benches and picnic tables are pre-determined, and plenty are available right now.

Each sponsored bench or table bears a plaque that can be used to memorialize a loved one, acknowledge a contribution or convey a message about the park. A sponsor can also choose a fish, heart, bicycle or tree icon to include on the plaque. (Messages must adhere to guidelines and be pre-approved.)

Sponsorships are $2,500 for a bench and $3,000 for a table and will support maintenance and repairs for 10 years. As Natural Resources Property Supervisor Angela Vickio points out, that means a long-term way to help more people experience outdoor recreation.

The more seating and rest options the park has, the more accessible it is “to people of all abilities,” Angela says. Picnic tables are specially designed to accommodate wheelchairs, too.

Bench and table sponsorships are also available for the Hank Aaron State Trail, which is connected to Lakeshore State Park.

If interested, contact Angela at (414) 750-1237 or Angela.Vickio@wisconsin.gov.

Hello everyone!

It’s my pleasure, honor, and privilege to serve as the incoming president of the Friends of Lakeshore State Park. Sue Frautschi did great work leading the organization over the past three years, and we’re thankful for her continued support on our all-volunteer board.

I love Milwaukee and the park. Hiking, cycling, birding, volunteering, and photography are some of my favorite activities, and the park is a great place to do it all. With beautiful prairies, the lake and city skyline, photo opportunities abound here. And if you want to share your skills, Friends of Wisconsin State Parks has a photo contest: FWSP Photo Contest.

Our organization has dedicated volunteers. Diane Bacha contributes the monthly article and helps with our social media. Please check out her story, as well as links to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. We’ve been posting about the park more frequently – and with spring on its way, we’ll have more exciting news to share!

All the best,

David Wenstrup

Bridge dedication honors a park supporter who built bridges of cooperation

The bridge at Lakeshore State Park is an important point of connection between downtown and the Third Ward and between the Hank Aaron State Trail and the Oak Leaf Trail. And now the bridge officially recognizes someone known for making connections during his many years of public service.

With Gov. Tony Evers and other dignitaries in attendance, the bridge was officially dedicated as the Richard A. Grobschmidt Memorial Bridge on a sunny October day last year. Everyone who spoke that day remembered Richard (Rick) warmly as someone who reached across the aisle in the service of his community.

I can’t think of a more fitting metaphor than this beautiful Lakeshore State Park bridge. Look out to the shiny bright bridge, with its radiant rows of sunshine beaming skyward. Try to imagine, as we step forward, that Rick is there to carry us across, as he was a true bridge-builder.   ~ Barb Grobschmidt

Rick was one of the key visionaries behind Lakeshore State Park and an avid advocate for the South Milwaukee community he represented for 18 years as a state senator and assemblyman. In those and other roles, he was particularly focused on education and became known as a bridge-builder who strove for productive discussions among all political parties. After Rick passed away in 2016, then-Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law naming the bridge after him.

Barb Grobschmidt, who attended the ceremony in honor of her husband, captured the day beautifully when she said, “I can’t think of a more fitting metaphor than this beautiful Lakeshore State Park bridge. Look out to the shiny bright bridge, with its radiant rows of sunshine beaming skyward. Try to imagine, as we step forward, that Rick is there to carry us across, as he was a true bridge-builder.”

Among the many in attendance at the dedication ceremony are, from left: Steve Schmelzer, Wisconsin State Parks Bureau Director, WDNR; David Wenstrup, FLSP President; Gov. Tony Evers; Bill Schmitt, FLSP Building and Facilities Chair; Barb Grobschmidt; and Angela Vickeo, Natural Resources Property Supervisor, Milwaukee State Parks Work Unit, WDNR.

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OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It has been three years since I stepped into the role of president of the Friends of Lakeshore State Park. Over that time, our organization has grown in both numbers and maturity. Through our fundraising efforts and the work of our volunteers, we’ve truly been making a difference to improve the park and benefit the community – thank you volunteers!

One of our most active volunteers recently has been David Wenstrup. He’s been instrumental in writing successful grant requests which have helped fund the ADA accessible fishing pier, improvements to our prairie plantings and other essential programs. And during warmer months, he’s often at the park helping the Wisconsin DNR remove invasive plants.

David retired from GE Healthcare a couple of years ago and is ready to lead us as we take our next steps forward caring for our beautiful gem of a park on the lake. I wish him all the best and will be there for him as past president whenever he needs me. Welcome David.

~ Sue Frautschi

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PARK PROPERTY SUPERVISOR UPDATE

Winter is in full swing here at the park, with numerous ice fishermen using the basin hoping to catch record-sized trout. As a reminder, the DNR does not monitor for ice conditions, and no ice is 100% safe. To help you best prepare for safely ice fishing, see the tips provided at Ice safety | Wisconsin DNR.

The goldeneyes, greater and lesser scaups, coots, and mallards are enjoying the open water created by the circulators used to keep the docks and fishing pier ice-free. These waterfowl typically will remain all winter long in open-water areas of the Lake Michigan shoreline.

As we look to the cold, snowy conditions on the park, we like to think about spring to give us a feeling of warmth. Stay tuned for the next newsletter for some exciting news on how to stay engaged in volunteer opportunities at the Park, including some longer-term volunteer positions needed and how to stay informed on special projects like the planting days, invasive species removal, and completion of painting our harbor railing at the south entrance in 2022.

If you’re looking for possibly getting even further involved, we are currently hiring for seasonal positions for Natural Resources Educator and Park and Recreation Specialists. For more information on these positions, and to apply, visit DNR (wisc.jobs) and search for Job ID 4527 for our Milwaukee Properties (Lakeshore State Park, Hank Aaron State Trail, Havenwoods State Forest). Applications for the Milwaukee Work Unit are due 11:59pm on February 13th.

We are continuing to take requests for bench and picnic table sponsorships for 2022. This will be an ongoing initiative until all approved locations have been sponsored. For more information on this opportunity, contact the Milwaukee Work Unit Superintendent, Angela Vickio. Prices for benches are $2500, and picnic tables are $3000, which includes all costs for purchase, plaque, installation, and 10 years of sponsorship.

Looking for an area candlelight hike? The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail in cooperation with Urban Ecology Center, are hosting the 5th annual Urban Candlelight Hike at Three Bridges Park on February 26th. More information on that event can be found at www.urbancandlelighthike.com. To find more winter recreation opportunities throughout all State Parks, visit Events | Wisconsin DNR.

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