Friends of County Grounds Park April 2021 Updates |
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Saturday, May 1@ 9:00am County Grounds Park – Forest Bathing Tour - Shinrin Yoku is the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing, where one is present to the full experience of nature by engaging all of the senses. Let the sights, sounds, aromas, and sensations of the old-growth Sanctuary Woods wash over you. Receive the many benefits of Forest Bathing including a decrease in stress and the stress hormone cortisol, improved immunity, relaxation, greater vigor, feelings of awe, and connection with nature. Enthusiast Sheila Nolte will provide a 90-minute experience where participants "unplug" from technology and daily life, and immerse themselves in the beauty of Sanctuary Woods.
- We can only accommodate 6 reservations for this tour. Out of an abundance of COVID caution, and with respect for all participants, masks are still required regardless of status.
- Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Saturday, May 1 and May 22 @ 2pm County Grounds Park / Sanctuary Woods History Tour - Jonathan Piel has extensively researched and documented the history of the relics in County Grounds Park. As tour guide, he includes photos, maps, stories that bring over a century of park history alive including visiting many of the remaining remnants. The ~1-mile guided hike includes several pre-designated stops: 120-year old field-stone stairs, split-boulder pavilion, 110-year-old 6' stone dolphin vase, former waterfalls, old-growth oak forest, former sunken gardens, and extensive onsite mental health hospital history. As featured in, Michelle Madden’s “111 Places in Milwaukee That You Must Not Miss”.
- This year this tour includes 1950s video in addition to historic photos
- We can now accommodate up to 20 reservations for these tours. Out of an abundance of COVID caution, and with respect for all participants, masks are still required regardless of status.
- May 1 Eventbrite Sign-Up
- May 22 Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Bluebird Houses - County Grounds Park Bluebird House initiative was featured by CBS 58, available at this link
- Special thanks to many who contributed and continue to support this. Kudos to: Milwaukee County Parks Department (Emilie and Brian), students and staff of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Graduate Program, Dr. Mike McBride of the Milwaukee VA Hospital, Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW), and our supporting photographers Dawl Birds & Eddee Daniel.
- The birdhouses were built by Mark McNally, a MCW staff member. BRAW donated two birdhouses to our installation, twelve total were installed, and two more that Mark built were donated to parks for future installations in other areas - a virtuous cycle.
- We ask that anyone not trained within this program refrain from approaching the birdhouses so they are not “over-loved”. We request that people and their pets keep a 25+ feet distance from these birdhouses to provide a more optimal habitat.
- Together, we continue to make a difference!!
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Photo Courtesy of Eddee Daniel Sunday, May 2 @ noon County Grounds Park / Sanctuary Woods Volunteer Invasives Removal - Join other volunteers for 2 hours of hand-pulling invasives including dames rocket, garlic mustard, buckthorn sprouts, and others.
- Everyone is encouraged to bring their own work gloves.
- No tools being used - appropriate for all ages.
- No experience needed, training and supervision will be provided.
- Reservation requested for coordination purposes.
- Masks are required during the cleanup, regardless of status. Non-family members will be distanced at least 6-feet apart. No food or beverages will be provided – each participant is encouraged to bring their own labeled water.
- Meeting at noon at Men's Pavilion see park map at: www.countygroundsfriends.org
- Dress for the weather, we will hold event unless there is lightning. There are no onsite restrooms.
- Got questions? Send email to friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com
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Photo Courtesy of Dawl Birds Saturday, May 22@ 8:30am County Grounds Park Birding Tour - Carl Schwartz is the editor of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology's monthly newsletter, "The Badger Birder” and serves on the boards of Bird City Wisconsin and the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory. He will lead a 90-minute spring migration hike, hoping to catch views of colorful spring warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Baltimore Orioles, along with many year-round residents. Carl will also share photos taken on the County Grounds of birds seen through many seasons. Binoculars are recommended, but not required. Tour size is limited and may fill up quickly.
- We can now accommodate up to 15 reservations for this tour. Out of an abundance of COVID caution, and with respect for all participants, masks are still required regardless of status.
- Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Saturday, May 22 @ 11am County Grounds Park / Sanctuary Woods 1950s Life on County Grounds - The County Institutions were Nancy Mitchell’s backyard in the 1940s and 1950s because her parents worked in the Tuberculosis Hospital on Watertown Plank Road. Nancy will share her firsthand accounts of those decades including experiences with the staff and patients. The ~1-mile tour will visit some of the remains that still exist, augmented by photos and video that will transport participants to re-experience those decades.
- We can now accommodate up to 20 reservations for this tour. Out of an abundance of COVID caution, and with respect for all participants, masks are still required regardless of status.
- Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Sunday, May 23rd @ 2pm County Grounds Park / Sanctuary Woods Forest Tour - Tour guide Charlie Mitchell is a guy who loves the forest and being among the trees. This tour will help participants identify all the approximately 10 significant species of native trees that inhabit the old growth forest known as Sanctuary Woods. The most significant and handsome are the sugar maple, white oak, red oak, burr oak and basswood, many of them hundreds of years old. Also to be identified will be some smaller trees and shrubs, all of them competing with intrusive, invasive buckthorn, in this small remnant of original forest that happened to survive the rampant deforestation that took place across the state in the 1800s. Charlie will reflect on the precarious health of the forest, and the stewardship and nurturing that will be needed to ensure its survival.
- Charlie’s interest was ignited with a book entitled American Trees that his grandfather gave him when he was ten years old. He has been building his library and knowledge of trees ever since. At the University of Maine in the 1960s, when he wasn’t studying mechanical engineering, he was out in the boondocks with the Outing Club. Living in Eagle River 1991 - 2013 he owned and managed a 10-acre woodlot. Charlie serves on the board of directors of Partners in Forestry, a forest-management oriented organization with headquarters in Conover.
- We can now accommodate up to 20 reservations for this tour. Out of an abundance of COVID caution, and with respect for all participants, masks are still required regardless of status.
- Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Tree Survey - The tree survey is going really well, we've already surveyed over 500 trees (GPS coordinates, species, diameter). We are finding some amazing gems of trees in diversity, health, and age - up to 390 years old!
- We have wonderfully qualified people leading the process, and welcome additional volunteers for executing the ongoing survey
- We meet ~weekly (flexibly) to continue the survey. We have 3 very good tree identifiers, but will benefit from more people who can simultaneously measure the trees (making the process go much faster). No experience needed and we have all the equipment.
- Below are Charlie and Dianne enjoying a great excuse to be outdoors and learn a new skill!
- If you are willing to volunteer, please send an email to friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com
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Monday, May 10th at 7pm Friends of County Grounds Park (FOCGP) Monthly Meeting - All are welcome to join, still being held via Zoom, we typically have 10-15 people join
- Standing committees/topics include park improvement, communications, wildlife, outdoor classroom, and health/wellness
- Send email to friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com to request a link
- FOCGP monthly meetings are at 7pm, the 2nd Monday of every month, all year long
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2021 Park Improvements - In 2021, Milwaukee County Parks Department has suspended processing any new requests for parks improvements by community groups
- Friends of County Grounds Park has still found a few areas we can pursue, including articles in this newsletter, and certain service events below
- More info on times and signups coming soon!
- Saturday Aug 29; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- Saturday Sep 4; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- Saturday Sep 18; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- Saturday Oct 2; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- Sunday Oct 17; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- Saturday Oct 30; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- Saturday Nov 13; time TBD; Buckthorn Removal
- A summary of some 2020 events can be found here:
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Future Tours - FOCGP has an incredible slate of tours planned for 2021 – thanks to all our volunteers!
- Sign-ups will be posted ~3 weeks before each month’s tours along with extended descriptions
- These postings will be communicated via newsletter, website, and Facebook
- If others desire future limited email updates, sign up at: https://tosahistory13.wixsite.com/tosa/signup
- If you are receiving this email, you already signed up for updates on our website
- Tour Summary:
- Saturday May 1; 9a; Forest Bathing - Sheila
- Saturday May 1; 2p; History Tour - Jonathan
- Saturday, May 22; 8:30a; Birding Tour - Carl
- Saturday May 22; 11a; 1950s Life on County Grounds - Nancy
- Saturday May 22; 2p; History Tour - Jonathan
- Sunday May 23; 2p; Forest Tour – Charlie
- Tuesday June 8th, 10a; Forest Bathing - Sheila
- Saturday, Jun 12; 10a; History Tour - Jonathan
- Saturday, Jun 12; 2p; Hydrology Tour - Cheryl
- Sunday, June 13, 11a; 1950s Life on County Grounds - Nancy
- Sunday, Jun 13; 2p; Cemeteries Tour – Mike
- Saturday, Jul 17; 2p; Tree Identification Tour - Caitlin
- Saturday, Jul 17; 5p; History 2.0 Tour – Jonathan
- Saturday, Aug 14; 10a; History Tour – Jonathan
- Sunday, Aug 15; 2p; Cemeteries Tour - Mike
- Saturday, Sep 11; 10a; History Tour - Jonathan
- Saturday, Sep 11; 3:30p; Monarchs Tour – Jim & Barb
- Sunday, Sep 12; 10a; Tree Identification Tour – Caitlin
- Sunday, Sep 12; 2p; Forest Tour – Charlie
- Saturday, Sep 18; 3:30p Monarchs Tour – Jim & Barb
- Saturday, Sep 25; 10a; Forest Bathing - Sheila
- Saturday, Sep 25; 2p; Coyote Tour - Danielle
- Saturday, Oct 16; 10a; History Tour - Jonathan
- Saturday, Oct 16; 2p; Fall Colors Tour - Caitlin
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More Information Regarding Guided Tours - Tours are free, donations are appreciated. The tour guides are volunteering in support of the non-profit Friends of County Grounds Park (initiatives include conservation, invasives removal, signage, trail building, and communications). Donations to the Friends group of any amount are appreciated and $4/person per tour is a wonderful value. If so inspired, donations can be made:
- Again, these tours are free, any donations are based on your inspiration
- County Grounds Park has no formal address, but can be found and navigated to via Apple/Google/Waze Maps searching “Sanctuary Woods Parking”. That parking circle is 0.5 mile north and west of 87th & Watertown Plank Road. Eventbrite requires an address, but this address only gets you close. The tour begins and ends at the parking lot in the center of the park, see park map at: www.countygroundsfriends.org
- Dress for the weather, we will hold tours unless there is lightning. There are no onsite restrooms. Tours are suitable for people of all ages.
- Most tours are ~1 mile, with regular stops. The paths are not suitable for mobility impaired. Special access tours can be facilitated by contacting the email below.
- Friendly pets on leash are welcome on the following tours: History, 1950s Life on the Grounds, Hydrology, Tree Identification, History 2.0, Forest, and Fall Colors
- Pets are not allowed on the following tours: Cemeteries, Forest Bathing, Birding, Monarchs, and Coyote
- Got questions? Send email to friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com
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Reporting Suspicious Activity - Unfortunately, the Milwaukee County Grounds have come under increased abuse during the COVID crisis. Perhaps increased boredom is leading to more extreme behavior. Perhaps perpetrators believe there is less use and oversight. This has decreased in the past 6 months thanks to very engaged visitors and more presence by the county sheriffs.
- 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
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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!! |
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