November brings colder temperatures and changes for Lakeshore Park. Just a few short weeks ago we saw Prairie Clover and Astor in full bloom, but now the prairie plants have already begun dropping seeds. Plants will undergo what is called cold stratification, a process of that allows natives to survive cold Wisconsin Winters. Though you may not see bright colors, the beauty if Lakeshore is ever present. Morning dew and frost show a different side of the park, so take a walk and take in the changes.

Final approval and funding have been reached for the marina decking project, as well as approval for the supplemental funding needed for the fishing pier repairs. You are likely to see much work being done in the park this November. Look forward to seeing these improvements up close in the spring!

November Events:
Friday, November 11^th: 3 pm to 4 pm Veteran’s Day Hike
Sunday, November 13^th: 11am to 12pm “Rock your Mocs” Hike
Friday, November 25^th: #OptOutside Hike (time TBA)

For questions about upcoming events, please contact the Park Manager: Elaine Zautke (Lakeshore Park Manager) Elaine.Zautke@wisconsin.gov / 414-274-4281

Dave Kallie grew up fishing in and around Milwaukee, sometimes on a boat and sometimes from shore, on Lake Michigan and in the rivers. These days, you’ll often see him casting with his 15-year-old son, Drew, who started out using a Snoopy rod and reel at age 3 or 4 and got hooked. Lakeshore State Park is a regular stop for both of them.

“Me personally, I love the fight when you hook one! It’s amazing. No other freshwater fish can fight that hard.”

Drew

“What they did with that park is awesome. The fishing opportunities always were there, and the park made it much more accessible.”

Dave

We asked Dave and Drew, who live in Brookfield, to share some of their tips and observations about fishing at Lakeshore State Park.  

• There’s a wonderful variety of fish to catch: Chinook (King) and Coho salmon; steelhead (rainbow), brown and lake trout; carp; rock, largemouth and smallmouth bass; northern Pike; yellow perch; bluegills; sunfish; and more.
• Don’t miss the fall salmon run, when these fish are spawning. “Me personally, I love the fight,” said Drew — and a fight is what he gets from the salmon from about September to October. Some can be 20 or 30 pounds. “When you hook one, it’s amazing. No other freshwater fish can fight that hard.”
• Starting around November and into spring is a good time for brown and steelhead (rainbow) trout, which feed on salmon eggs.
• Ice-fishing season at Lakeshore State Park can vary — if interested, monitor conditions.
• Summer is the time for largemouth bass, northern pike, carp and even some walleye. 

To monitor fishing conditions, try LakeLink.com, which has a thread specifically about Lakeshore State Park, and group pages on Facebook such as the Racine/Kenosha Lake Michigan Fishing Report  Whether catch-and-release or for dinner, and whenever you choose to go, the Kallies predict you’ll enjoy the experience.

“It’s a way to slow life down. It allows me to clear my head. It’s a form of therapy for me whether I catch fish or not.”

Dave Kallie

Hello – As the end of year approaches, I think it’s a good time to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Friends of Lakeshore State Park thus far in 2022. Here are highlights:Facilitated enrollment of volunteers under Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s Adopt-a-River program for two Park clean up days

• Assembled grant funds to purchase over 4,500 native forbs and prairie grass plugs for Fox Prairie, and participated in the three-day volunteer effort to get these plants in the ground in late May

• Hosted the first ever Brunch on the Beach food truck event on a beautiful July summer day

• Promoted the Park at multiple events:  Family Day at Northwestern Mutual Community Park, the Air & Water Show, Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile, “Indeed We Can” at Indeed Brewing, The Dragon Boat Festival and Harbor Fest

• Raised grant and donation dollars to pay for three new picnic tables in the Park and facilitated the addition of two benches and another table

• Used grant dollars secured in 2021 to pay for park naturalist and diversity intern hours and supplies devoted to developing and leading educational tours and programs in the Park

• Secured a grant and sourced matching funds to cover updated signage and tools for the fishing programs. Awarded a grant to cover similar educational services in 2023

• Awarded a grant to cover the cost of a Park Educator in 2023

• Used grant dollars to pay for Park bike racks

• Completed the second year of environmentally safe goose mitigation spraying using a grant secured in 2021, resulting in a year-over-year drop in the goose population count – and cleaner paths

• Used grant dollars for supplies and helped recruit a volunteer group to complete painting of harbor railing along the south approach to the Park

• Significantly increased our presence on social media and news reporting including TV on-site coverage of Brunch on the Beach

• Moved ahead with planning for the Visitor & Education Center by completing engineering studies for bringing water and sewer infrastructure into the Park

• Began a collaborative project to develop a conservation and education program using student-designed pollinator houses to be installed in the Park in 2023

All this from your all-volunteer Friends of Lakeshore State Park – your donations make this and more possible! Please consider today making a donation.

And new this year, we’re excited to join with dozens of other non-profit organizations on the “Giving First” initiative on November 22nd. Up to $2,000 of donations raised on that date will be matched dollar for dollar by two anonymous donors, a 3-for-1 benefit we’d love to maximize. Please look for more information about this program later this month.

I hope you can take time to enjoy these fine fall days we’re having. The Park prairies are beautiful now with late blooming asters aglow in the late afternoon sun – so come out to the Park!

There’s still plenty of good walking weather left, and with over 2.2 miles of paved trails, Lakeshore State Park (LSP) is a terrific place to get your steps in! Here are 10 reasons why you’ll want to choose this beautiful urban landscape for enjoyment and exercise.

1. It’s free. No fees. No need to buy fancy equipment. Plenty of free parking. Just lace up your walking shoes, put on some sunscreen and grab a water bottle. That’s a pretty great deal.
2. It’s convenient. LSP is the state’s only urban park, which means it’s conveniently located to people who work, live and visit the downtown area. Do you work nearby? Stop by during lunch break or before you start your shift. Do you live nearby? There’s probably an easily accessible trail that will connect you to LSP (check out #7 and #8 below). It’s also compact enough that you can fit a quick walk in after a business meeting, before a trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum, or any of the many nearby sites and activities.
3. It’s got plenty of variety. Paved and unpaved, prairie and shoreline, Lake Michigan and the city skyline, Pier Wisconsin and the Summerfest grounds — there is a wealth of different walking experiences at LSP. You can choose different routes and loops on each visit.
4. It’s great for people with limited mobility. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or you have other mobility limitations, LSP’s smooth, paved paths are just right for you. The entire park is designed to be accessible to people who use wheelchairs or walkers.
5. It’s great for families and kids. Those well-paved paths we mentioned? They’re great for strollers, too! And while you’re walking, your kids will love exploring the prairie trails, chasing butterflies and watching vessels come and go from Port Milwaukee.
6. You can take guided hikes. Watch our calendar for guided hikes that will help you learn about plant life and wildlife while you walk. Guides will help you explore everything from dragonflies to flowers, birds to medicinal plants. Many are bilingual, too.
7. It’s part of the Hank Aaron State Trail. Want something a little more challenging? LSP is part of a 14-mile trail stretching west from the lake to the Milwaukee/Waukesha county line. As you walk, you’ll pass the Harley-Davidson Museum, Miller Park, the Urban Ecology Center, the Historic Soldiers Home and more, plus a variety of urban and natural settings.
8. It connects with the Oak Leaf Trail. Add even more challenge and variety by including the Milwaukee County’s Oak Leaf Trail on your walk, which stretches north. It’s a multi-use system with over 135 miles, nearly a quarter of them hugging the shoreline.
9. It’s good for your body. Physical activity has been called “the closest thing we have to a wonder drug,” and walking is one of the easiest, most affordable and most accessible ways to move for all ages. Aside from burning calories, walking has been shown to ease joint pain, boost immune function, improve circulation, help maintain bone mass, tone your muscles … and the list goes on.
10. It’s good for your mental health. Walking, especially in nature, is often touted as a way to relieve stress along with a wide variety of other benefits. Your mind will appreciate a chance to step away from laptops, phones and tablets to enjoy nature. Many use walks as a meditative, therapeutic self-care routine. And it’s a terrific way to meet up with friends and family for a little together time.

September was a busy month at Lakeshore State Park. Thanks to the work of Wisconsin DNR staff and volunteers, we had over a dozen organized events enjoyed by many park visitors. Partnerships are vitally important to us as we work with the Wisconsin DNR in support of the park. Our many community partners help us bring varied activities that meet the wide interests and needs of our visitors and also help make outdoor recreation and education fee-free and accessible for everyone.

Walking is one of those free and readily accessible activities that can be enjoyed most anytime. In this month’s article, Diane Bacha gives 10 reasons why our park is a great place to walk. Our guided hikes provide wonderful opportunities to see many of our feathered friends, and are especially fun during the fall migration. During a recent park visit, nature photographer Jim Edlhuber captured an amazing moment when a young pelican flew over the park entrance sign – click on the photo below to see more at his blog.

Spreading the word about all our park has to offer is important. At Harbor Fest last week, our volunteers along with the DNR hosted a tent in the Harbor District, providing information to many festival goers about our beautiful park and the many programs that are offered here. More than 60 people signed up to receive our monthly newsletter – welcome new subscribers! We hope everyone shares the newsletter with their friends and family as well.

The days are getting noticeably shorter, but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the natural beauty of the park. A variety of activities will be available with 10 events planned in the upcoming weeks, listed in the park update below, on our Events page and on Facebook.

David Wenstrup
President, Friends of Lakeshore State Park