Spring Newsletter - Friends of Lakeshore State Park

Water’s Edge
Friends of Lakeshore State Park Newsletter - Spring 2015
2015 Board of Directors
President
Robert Gosse, AIA
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
Vice-President
Michael R. Palmisano
Diversified Capital Management
Secretary
Manuel Raynal
City of Milwaukee
Treasurer
Marc DeVries
Sikich LLP
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Nancy O’Keefe
Historic Third Ward Association
President’s Message
Dear Friends,
I am very proud to present a project our Board members, Building Committee, and DNR
management and staff have been collectively working on for some time. Later this month we
will be publicly unveiling a design study for our Education and Visitor Center on the Park. We
will also announce how we will be moving forward with a capital campaign to raise the money
for the construction of the building. We have spent countless hours working with The Kubala
Washatko Architects on a preliminary design for a building that meets the Living Building
Challenge for a sustainable building and site - a project that is “off the grid.” Enhancing the
Park’s educational components, this one of a kind building will be a teaching tool in itself,
possessing the kind of merit to be sought after by donors and sponsors willing to help us make
this project a reality.
Angela Damiani
Our Board members invite everyone to this public unveiling of this impressive project and look
forward to your feedback. Additional information can be found below in this newsletter for the
open house information. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the unveiling and on the
Park in the upcoming months.
Lloyd Dickinson
See you at the Park!
Kristin Amenson
Amenson Design
NEWaukee
Bob Fenlon
Gilbane Building Company
Rita Flores Wiskowski
Milwaukee Art Museum
Susan Frautschi
Lisette Hernandez
Bob Gosse
President, Friends of Lakeshore State Park
Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Fred Klancnik
CAPSTONE Engineering Design
Gloria McCutcheon, PhD, PE
Ronald S. San Felippo
Chair, BID No. 2
Board of Harbor Commissioners
Michael Wogoman
Ex-Officios
Kae DonLevy
Friends Development
and Program Coordinator
WI Marina Association
Thomas Kroeger
Lakeshore State Park Manager
Past President
Todd Montgomery, PhD
TVM Consulting LLC
In Memoriam
Chuck Ward
Founder,
Friends of Lakeshore State Park
Open House
Tuesday, April 21 ~ 4 to 7pm
Miller Room at O’Donnell Park (910 E. Michigan Street)
Parking available at the O’Donnell Park Parking Structure
The design study for the Education and Visitor Center at the Park will be unveiled. Join the
board members to view the design features, discuss the project, and plan for the future.
This event is open to the public.
We encourage you to attend and bring a friend!
Sponsored by the Friends of Lakeshore State Park Board of Directors
w w w . f r i e n d s l s p . o r g
Tom’s Notes
As of mid-March, the ice is rapidly melting on the park lagoons.
Ice anglers are still on the ice, catching brown trout and various
other gamefish. The fishing activity was heavy all winter,
spurred on by several articles, fishing show episodes that
highlighted the lagoons, and several guides that organized
regular trips to Lakeshore.
We did survive the winter with
a minimum of damage to the
docks, although the ramp to the
fishing dock had to be removed
in February to prevent the ramp
from falling on the ice as the ice
pushed the dock farther from
shore. Winter highlights included regular visits by a very large
female snow owl, picture courtesy of Bruce Schultz.
Lakeshore is lucky to have many of the staff from last year
return for this season. Several of the staff are already working
part time, getting an early jump on paperwork, equipment
repair, and early field work. On a sad
note, Nathan Paulus will not be back
this year. Nathan started here in the
summer of 2008, a few months before I
started, and has been here ever since.
Boaters and I will both miss his great
management of the boat docks during
the busy summer months, as well as
many other duties he performed around
the park with quiet competence.
It looks like another record year for
events and activities at the park. Highlights include another
Urban Beach Party, expanded and better than ever; the
USA Triathlon for an unprecedented third time at one venue;
another Fishing Has No boundaries Event for disabled
anglers, Sturgeon Fest; several paddle sport demonstrations;
many runs, walks and bike rides; and a few weddings. Watch
the Friends website (www.friendslsp.org) and/or the Facebook
page (MKELakeshoreStatePark) for event information.
Tom Kroeger
Park Manager
Visit Online
The Optimisim of Spring - A
Living Building Challenge!
Spring is in the air and a proposed Visitor and Education
Center is ready to bloom. Over the past six months, The
Kubala Washatko Architects developed an Architectural
Feasibility Study commissioned by the Board of Directors
of the Friends of Lakeshore State Park. The feasibility
study design recommendations will be displayed for
public viewing soon.
Lakeshore State Park was dedicated in June 2007 as the
first urban park in the Wisconsin state park system. This
proposed Visitor and Education Center with an Outdoor
Plaza will be the gateway to the state parks system.
Positioned between downtown Milwaukee and Lake
Michigan, the Center will serve as a hub for education
and social activities with emphasis on appreciating
natural resources, experiencing nature, and learning
about environmental stewardship.
The facilities will:
• Meet transient boater needs with 24-hour secure
access to restrooms and shower facilities
• Provide indoor multi-purpose space for education
and other meeting activities
• Provide an outdoor plaza, featuring a double-sided
fireplace for large and small events
• Showcase the building and plaza as sustainable
demonstrations of the Living Building Challenge
During Earth Week, The Board of Directors of the Friends
of Lakeshore State Park will sponsor an Open House
at O’Donnell Park from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on April
21. Join the board members to view the design features,
discuss the project, and plan for the future.
The Board and Friends look forward to your enthusiasm,
support, and help in spreading the word to others about
the project. By volunteering and making a donation you
can help make this dream a reality. The signature bridge
in the park can lead to a new Center of ideas and learning
opportunities for future generations.
Gloria McCutcheon
Chair, Building and Facilities Committee
Need a quick, easy way to visit the
Friends’ website?
Point your mobile device to this
QR Code.
S o ci al i z e w it h u s!
facebook.com/MKELakeshoreStatePark
twitter.com/LakeshoreSTPark