Friends of County Grounds Park June 2021 Updates |
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Saturday, June 12 @ 10am 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 the tour includes 1950s video in addition to historic photos
- Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Sunday, June 13 @ 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.
- Eventbrite Sign-Up
- Got questions? More tour details are included at the end of the newsletter
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Sunday, June 13 @ 2pm County Grounds Park Cemeteries Tour - Mike McBride has been studying, authoring, and advocating about the County Grounds paupers’ cemeteries for 3 decades. As tour guide, he will share the engaging history of lost and found graves including the origins of “potter’s cemeteries” featured around the world for 2000 years, who was interred here in Milwaukee, and how our ancestors lived and died in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This tour will facilitate a discussion on the thousands of remains exhumed throughout the county grounds since the early 90s and the current disposition of remains for academic study.
- 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
- As of June 1: Our monitors haven't seen bluebirds at all on Country Grounds but everyone is having fun
- As of June 1: Almost all 12 houses have a tree swallow nest, and most have eggs (up to 7 eggs each), and five have babies.
- Tree swallows are at similar or higher risk than bluebirds - so the houses are being used well.
- 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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Tree Survey - The tree survey team now meets regularly - every Thursday night at 6:30.
- If you are interested in further logistics please send an email to friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com
- We have a great core group, several new folks, and together have surveyed over 800 trees (GPS coordinates, species, diameter). We are finding some amazing gems of trees in diversity, health, and age - up to 390 years old! See the graphic above for some of the larger trees we've surveyed!
- We have wonderfully qualified people leading the process, and welcome additional volunteers for executing the ongoing survey. No experience needed and we have all the equipment. Everyone is matched with someone who can identify trees - and teach you how to as well!
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Monday, June May 14th at 7pm Friends of County Grounds Park (FOCGP) Monthly Meeting - This month we will meet onsite at the Men's Pavilion. Bring a camp chair and enjoy the outdoors together. We typically have 10-15 people join
- Standing committees/topics include park improvement, communications, wildlife, outdoor classroom, and health/wellness
- For more information, email friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com
- 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 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, Jun 12; 10a; History Tour - Jonathan
- 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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