Master Plan for Lakeshore transformation revealed to Oshkosh residents
From community course to community hub, Oshkosh Corporation is transforming the previous Lakeshore Golf Course following the sale of 33 acres to the corporation in 2018. Talks soon began about what would be done with the remaining 70 acres of land overlooking the Fox River and Lake Butte Des Morts. The decision was made to turn the undeveloped land into a public recreational park that would be available to the surrounding community.
Many factors came into consideration during the deliberation; the plot contains many terrain features to plan around.
“Floodplains, wetland pockets and archaeologically-sensitive areas,” according to the Oshkosh Parks Department, deserve special care that would have to be taken to preserve the ecological function and historical significance of the area.
Additionally, public opinion became a key influence on the creation of the development plan. Results from a community survey determined the plan’s priorities as voters preferred “a park focused on passive recreation and characterized by restored native habitats and ecosystems; a place where park users could engage with nature.”
Not only were the physical attributes of the park taken into consideration, but also the social side of the area as explained by the Oshkosh Parks Department in the Master Plan document.
“Those who participated in the public engagement process also clearly articulated the importance of art, history, culture, and community in shaping the form and function of Lakeshore’s next iteration,” the Master Plan document states.
The next step in the planning process was extensive research regarding the many different facets of potential concern. As mentioned above, developers needed to be aware of ecological factors such as floodplains and wetland pockets, but a focus was also put on identifying and solving potential impediments to user experience, such as noise pollution from the I-41 freeway located directly adjacent to the park. Additionally, the cultural sensitivity and shoreline restoration initiatives needed to be taken into consideration.
With these factors in mind, the Parks Department Staff, the Advisory Park Board, the Pedestrian and Bicycling Advisory Committee, and the Sustainability Advisory Board began developing plans and design concepts which eventually culminated in the Master Plan, a hybrid of three proposed design alternatives which will be executed in five phases.
Phase one focuses on the development of what the plan has called the “Punhoqua Terminus,” the easternmost section of the site. This phase includes highlights such as a four season multipurpose building and a splash water pad.
The previously unused space will now start to take shape as a community hub, and developers hope the design will draw families and community members alike.
“These improvements are intended to create a flexible, year-round community space, leverage existing infrastructure, and complement the adjacent park program,” the Master Plan reads.
Phase two includes fewer large developments but highlights the importance of the flow of the plan.
This phase will connect surrounding lake view trails and walkways, an important step to having a complete park.
Phase two acts as a stepping stone to phase one, “an initial investment meant to establish access for and create activity within the west half of Lakeshore Park,” according to the Master Plan
Phase three is centered around water, focusing on the chain of ponds scattered throughout the park and the river view. Another feature will be added in phase three: a fishing and personal watercraft pier for the public to use and enjoy. But one of the most important ecological advancements being made in this plan is on the shoreline.
What used to be a scattering of concrete will be replaced with a long lasting shore line that will better protect the park made out of natural materials. According to the Master Plan, this will provide “a combination of stone revetment, stepped stone revetment, and vegetation-stabilized shoreline provides necessary protection by reducing the amount of hardened edge.”
The fourth phase focuses on The Great Lawn, a space that will be used for picnics, lounging, and community events. Restrooms and land features will be added to make the park more accessible to both humans and animals. According to the Master Plan, “the earthworks improve the quality and experience of the West Park core, while prairie, savanna, and oak woodland habitat restoration transforms the remaining golf course turf into functional habitat.”
Finally, phase five will tie everything together by completing previously untouched areas of the project, and adding accessibility like parking lots. The highlight of phase five will be a childrens attraction that completes the space all together as “the grouping of playground, parking, and lawn just north of Mary Jewell Park and the lift station/restroom building is meant to expand the combined program offerings.”
The Lakeshore Park is a project centered around community and environmental concerns. It has taken an unused and ecologically unhelpful space into a hub for engagement and development. “The Lakeshore Park Master Plan reflects the community’s vision for a primarily passive park that affords parkgoers an opportunity to experience nature.”
By GJ Zahner Delaney Smith
Published November 27 2023
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue II