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DEVELOPMENT OF A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION Lake Park Friends has:
Restoration of the
Erastus B. Wolcott monument Over the years, the monument, it's benches and patio showed the wear and tear
of Milwaukee's outdoor environment. Lake Park Friends raised more than $100,000 to restore the
illustrious monument. Restoration by renown conservator, Andrzej Dajnowski, was completed in 2007. A dedication ceremony was held in the Spring of 2008. North Point Lighthouse LPF, since 1998, has been actively involved in preservation and restoration efforts for the North Point Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters. LPF board members on the Lighthouse steering committee helped with these tasks: writing the business plan, securing an option to lease the facility, researching history, conducting tours, writing grant applications, developing promotional materials, organizing a fundraiser, developing a campaign cabinet, organizing neighbor meetings, development of new board and organizational structure for North Point Lighthouse Friends, Inc. In 2002, North Point Lighthouse Friends incorporated and received 501c3 tax status. In financial support of the project, in 2002 Lake Park Friends contributed $25,000 of a $50,000 grant LPF received from the Schoenleber Foundation. In October, a major grant from the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation was approved for the lighthouse project. After construction, the lighthouse was opened to the public in the Fall of 2007. Flowerbeds In 2001, the Nature Committee restored an abandoned park flowerbed near the warming house; in 2002 the bed was expanded and is now an appealing butterfly garden. In 1999, LPF provided funds for planting flowers in the abandoned Grand Staircase bed. The County restored the Staircase and now maintains the beds. In 2000, LPF purchased two of the decorative urns lining the stairs. In 2010, landscape plans to revive the Staircase were drafted by Dennis Buettner, of Buettner & Associates. The plans called for the use of some existing plants and incorporating more native plants and shrubs that could withstand dry conditions. With the cooperation of Milwaukee County Parks Department, and with funds from the Bartolotta Restaurant Lease, the staircase was replanted and weeded in June. Bluffs and Ravines In 2001, a Natural Areas Restoration Committee was established to work with County Parks Dept. staff to develop a restoration plan for the bluffs and ravines of Lake Park. Research has been done on the Frederick Law Olmsted vision (2001). Historic photos, planting plans, maps, correspondence, and old park annual reports have been collected and studied (2001 - ongoing). In 2002, LPF engaged naturalist Richard Barloga to inventory vegetation in the ravines and on the park bluffs. Flowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees were inventoried, and, in some cases, mapped. A map which highlights the bluffs and ravines was provided by the Parks Dept.; this map was enhanced by Lake Park Friends' Nature and History Committees in order to provide historical and nature education to park users as well as to guide future park restorations. The publications utilizing this map, and completed in early 2003, are:
The Lake Park History Map was completed in 2002. In spring of 2003, members of the committee began working with Wahl Avenue residents and the Parks Dept. to develop plans to trim overgrown vegetation in the southern section of the park bluffs. Stabilization efforts are currently underway (2008.) Weed-Outs of wildflower areas in park ravines and bluffs have been held every spring since 1996. Fall Weed-Outs to remove invasive Buckthorn have been conducted by volunteers every year since 2001. As an organization we joined the National Association for Olmsted Parks and have purchased their materials about restoration of natural areas in Olmsted Parks. We also sent a representative to their national conference in New Jersey in 2002. In 2008-10, renovations will occur in the Waterfall Ravine, which is located just south of the Pavilion parking lot. The goal of the Waterfall Ravine Restoration Project is to restore the original features of the Ravine, which include the access trail, bridges, piping, rock work, stream channel, storm inlet, vegetation, water sources and waterfall. A contemporary environmental enhancement will include a rain garden at the lowest level to filter silt and sediments out of the storm water prior to flowing into Lake Michigan. And, an overlook will be included atop the waterfall. EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS LPF has organized and sponsored:
ADVOCACY We have also successfully advocated for:
COLLABORATIONS As a Lake Park "support group" we cooperate with or co-sponsor most events and activities with the Milwaukee County Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Culture. All of these events are free and open to the public. We have also collaborated with The Park People, Preserve Our Parks, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Water Tower Landmark Trust, Milwaukee Lake Park Lawn Bowling Association, Urban Ecology Center, Schlitz Audubon Center, Historic Milwaukee, and other groups on projects and events. We have appointed representatives to the Parks Foundation, the SE Wisconsin Beach Task Force, and since 2002, the North Point Lighthouse Friends board.
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