Friends of County Grounds Park

July Updates

Two Service Project Completed and an Upcoming Guided Walk

Restoration - 2022 Invasives Removal

 

June 11th we had our final weed out with 10 volunteers.  Thanks to all the volunteers who helped us with 4 weed outs this spring. Special thanks to Caitlin Reinartz for her time, expertise, and drive to lead the events.  Together we made a big difference.

Outdoor Classroom - Bumble Bee Walk
This Saturday - July 23

 

Thanks to Halley, Restoration Ecologist at Parks Natural Areas, for guiding this hike!!!

 

Please RSVP by emailing ParksComSci@milwaukeecountywi.gov

 

A great article about Rusty Patch Bumble bees in a select county park here:  https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/wnrmag/2021/Summer/Bee

 

Parking map here:

Restoration - Dead Tree Removal

 

In the 1980s the Mental Health Hospital on the southern edge of present day County Grounds Park was demolished.  The foundation was backfilled, and a dozen ash trees were planted in the resulting field.  Those ash trees flourished until about 5 years ago when then succumbed to emerald ash borer and all died.

 

Friends of County Grounds Park has coordinated with the Milwaukee County Parks Department to replace those trees and further extend the existing forest by planting dozens more trees in this field.  We have already started fundraising (more details in a future newsletter) toward purchasing and planting several dozen native trees. 

 

One step in the overall plan was to remove the existing dead ash trees.  Thanks to Freddy Hoppe for leading the tree removal event, along with three other volunteers from Hoppe Tree Service. 

 

In total, we had a total of 12 volunteers - including help from several of our park business neighbors: 

  • Mark Geronime of the Milwaukee Medical Regional Center 

  • Patrick Shanahan of Samapa LLC (Watertown Apartments shown in photos)

  • Mike Lappen of Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services

 

12 volunteers, 12 trees - each volunteer did the equivalent of dragging one full tree into the existing woods line for stacking.  It was an amazing, arduous, successful, and safe morning.  Thanks to ALL our volunteers and our business neighbors for the sweat equity to make this happen!!

 

More details to come on the pending tree planting.

Friends of County Grounds Park (FOCGP)

Monthly Meetings

 

  • We meet monthly

  • Topics include park improvement, communications, wildlife, outdoor classroom, youth friends, health/wellness, park signage, and tree planting

  • For more information on times/locations to join the monthly meeting, email friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com

Reporting Suspicious Activity

  • The Milwaukee County Grounds is patrolled and enforced by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department
  • Please be part of the solution and directly report any suspicious activity: 
    • Sheriff:  414-278-4788
    • Fire or medical emergency:  911
  • Thanks for helping take clear ownership for our shared space

Staying connected

  • Website:  www.countygroundsfriends.org
  • Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/friendsofcountygroundspark
  • Email:  friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com
  • Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/youth_county.grounds.friends/   
  • Phone:  414-369-2155
  • Please join any of our monthly meetings!
  • Want to see previous versions of this newsletter - they are listed at the bottom of our website on this page

Sincere appreciation for a community that has been such good stewards for this precious space. We have a lot to be proud of, the ability to make a difference, and hope for the future. Thank you!!