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!
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.
May 2024 Newsletter
Hello Friends!
Warmer temperatures are waking up the flora and the fauna at Lakeshore State Park! Near the marina, resident groundhogs can be seen enjoying the spring sun. They are highly adaptable, able to live in various habitats. Lakeshore’s riprap and prairies offer a unique environment for a safe home, with plenty of vegetation for them to munch on. Though our groundhogs are curious and used to humans, those lucky enough to view them should watch from a respectful distance.
The prairies are also coming alive! Look for signs of life while walking through the park and reading our new informational signs on blooming plants. Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) is one of our first bloomers with their clusters of low growing, reddish pink flowers. We have signage with info about them in the demonstration prairie beds north of the pedestrian bridge.
The DNR will be installing sign stakes as more plants bloom by the month. Information can be found at “what’s in bloom” in park kiosks as well. And the DNR staff are hard at work removing invasive and aggressive species from the park’s prairies, as well as preparing areas for new, native plantings.
Keep an eye out for volunteer weed-out and planting dates coming soon!
May 1: May Day Hike, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet north entrance of the park, near Discovery World May 3: History of Lakeshore State Park Hike, 2:00-3:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 5: Great Lakes Awareness Walk, 3:00-4:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 8: Wildflower Walk, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 10: Bird Hike, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 11: Public Fishing Clinic, 1:00-3:00 PM Meet at fishing pier, along the western path May 12: Mother’s Day Hike, 3:00-4:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 15: Fossil Hike, 5:00-6:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 15: Beach Bonfire 6:00-8:30 PM Meet at Pebble Beach, along the park’s western path. May 17: Mushroom Hunt, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 19: World Bee Day Walk, 3:00-4:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 22: Edible Plants Walk, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 24: Spring Scavenger Hunt, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet near Discovery World May 29: Snail Trails, 6:00-7:00 PM Meet near Discovery World
May 15th 6pm-8:30pm. Evening bonfire with smore’s Jun 19th. 6pm-8:30pm. Evening bonfire with smore’s Jul 7th 10am-2pm. Brunch By the Beach with food trucks Jul 23rd. 6pm-8:30pm. Evening bonfire with smore’s Aug21st. 6pm-8:30pm. Evening bonfire with smore’s Sep 7th. time TBD. Wildflowers By the Water: Music, Food and Art Sep 18th 5:30pm-7:30pm. Evening bonfire with smore’s
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.
Sturgeon Protectors Signal Hope for our Rivers
For the first time in many years, sturgeon are returning to our rivers.
This has been the result of efforts by many groups, which Michael Timm reflects on in his recent article published in Urban Milwaukee: “Why do we care about the Sturgeon?”
When Sturgeon return home, we should be thinking about what kind of home that place will be. Like us, as Native people, sturgeon had been removed from their original homelands…so now our relatives are able to return, but return to what?
One of the groups that has been instrumental in the return of the sturgeon are the Milwaukee Sturgeon Protectors which use both native knowledge and environmental science to help heal the river. Mark Denning, a member of the Sturgeon Clan in the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin wrote “When Sturgeon return home, we should be thinking about what kind of home that place will be. Like us, as Native people, sturgeon had been removed from their original homelands…so now our relatives are able to return, but return to what?”
The ability of our rivers to support spawning sturgeon has been on the minds not only of Sturgeon Protector members, but also children in nature science classes. Children are involved not only in measuring water quality through their classes, but they are also some of the most enthusiastic sturgeon releasers during Sturgeon Fest. To learn more about the Sturgeon Protectors, please contact them at https://sturgeonprotectors.org
Education and awareness are key parts of the ethos of the Sturgeon Protectors, who were inspired by literal protectors preventing poaching during spawning season. The Sturgeon Protectors have many members from different environmental organizations around Milwaukee including Riverkeeper, Friends of Lakeshore State Park , UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, and Wisconsin Green Fire, among others. The repair of our riparian environment is not only beneficial for Sturgeon, but for other native fish – and humans too. These long-lived fish will hopefully return to cleaner rivers that will continue on the path of restoration as the next generation becomes involved in their protection”
Several members of the Sturgeon Protectors group meet at the UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences on Feb. 1, 2024. From left to right: Anne Steinberg, Eric Hansen, Mark Denning, Shirley Aspinall, Don Behm, David Wenstrup, Clare Eigenbrode, and Cheryl Nenn. Photo by Michael Timm.
Woman’s Club of Wisconsin Foundation Grant
More park improvements are coming our way! Thanks to the help of park manager Elaine Zautke, the Friends were recently awarded a grant of $3,000 for vegetative mat installation for the south end of the park.
These mats help reduce runoff and standing water during storms and wave surges, and provide habitat for many pollinator specites included monarch butterflies.
We are very grateful for the generosity of the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin Foundation for their continued support of the park through funding the vegetative mat projects!
Stock photo showing vegetative mats installed in 2021 thanks to a previous grant from the Woman’s Club of Milwaukee Foundation
