Photo by Konrad Kuchenbach
Without our friends and neighbors, Humboldt Park would be a patch of grass and trees. But for over 100 years and multiple generations, Humboldt has been a vibrant and integral part of the Bay View community. We created a beautiful place for play, arts, and recreation that our community can enjoy for years to come, and we did it together.
I can categorically say that last year was challenging. In a way, it was more challenging than at the beginning of the pandemic. Instead of mandated lockdowns forcing our entire community into refuge, we waded the delicate balance of risk and sanity. Humboldt Park once again provided a way for our community to tentatively come together and explore what is the new reality of our world while emerging from the pandemic.
As with 2020, we saw continued unstructured use of the Park and higher usage as a whole. For most of the year, there were no formal events. As guidelines relaxed, some events were allowed. We did see the return of past stalwarts, The Vine Humboldt and Triciclo Peru providing outdoor service and recruiting new programs such as Shakespeare in the Park by the local Optimist Theatre, Art at the beer garden, and the traveling theatre troupe Fox and Beggar Theatre.
As we were forced to slow down and socially distance, 2020 made some of us reflect on the importance of our shared natural public spaces. Many residents are not aware that parks are a non-mandated service. That means they are at the bottom of the list when receiving funding support from the county because mandated services take priority. Therefore, parks need champions in the community to care for, restore, and advocate for them. That is the mission of our group, one hundred percent powered by volunteers and community members.
Below are some highlights and updates from 2021.
Bayview Ice Skaters
This year wasn’t our fist on the ice, but it was instrumental in my family’s increasing love for the wintertime. We built snow forts together and boot-skated around the edge of the meticulously cared for rink by volunteers from Greg Stilin and the Bay View Ice Skating group. If you haven’t experienced the magic of a rink after dark, the stillness of a gentle snowfall only broken by the sound of skates and laughter, I highly recommend it.
The snow-blowing equipment provided by the Humboldt Park Friends is ready, and we are monitoring the ice thickness. We will announce when the lagoon is officially open for skating. Once it is declared open by Milwaukee County Parks, the lights will be on for night skating.
We will continue to clear the expanded skating area to include space for both Ice Hockey and recreational skating. HPF coordinates with the group and publishes ice conditions on our website and Facebook group.
Lagoon Restoration
The coronavirus pandemic prevented Humboldt Park Friends from conducting a full-scale cattail cut in 2020 and again in 2021. However, a small group of volunteers and board members spent an autumn day maintaining the existing test planting areas. Some of the cattails were trying to re-establish themselves.
The Lagoon Restoration Committee continues to meet and is working on selecting a contractor to develop a comprehensive restoration plan based on community input. One of the biggest challenges is creating a plan that will allow for improved vistas of the lagoon and improved wildlife habitat for birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians found at the lagoon.
If you are interested in joining the Lagoon Restoration committee, contact us at info@humboldtparkmilwaukee.org.
2021 has seen a significant decrease in tree loss than in 2020, devastating to our urban forest. Still, many trees are sick and dying. Humboldt Park Friends created the 100 for Humboldt campaign from a long-term vision of what the Park would look like past our lifetimes and what short-term actions we could do to provide long-term results.
The first 25 trees have been planted and made it through the unusually dry and hot summer thanks to a concerted effort to consistently water from Boy Scout troop 108 from Immaculate Conception Church and dedicated volunteers from Humboldt Park Friends. Our neighbors have wholeheartedly backed the project and have raised past the original goal but have met the requirements for the rising costs as well. Without our friends, the trees indeed would have withered.
We are creating a small gift for the first 100 full tree donors that depicts Humboldt Park and tree information. Donors have the opportunity to dedicate their donation to a loved one on our 100 for Humboldt page.
Humboldt Park Junior and Senior Ranger Program
We continue to distribute park ranger activity books free of charge to the community through our website. We also have been putting them in the little free library on the corner of Pine St and Dakota st.
The Humboldt Park Ranger Program is a self-guided program for children ages 5 and up and their families. It is designed to teach children about Humboldt Park’s history, wildlife, geography, and celebrations. When kids complete enough of the book they receive a custom embroidered patch at one of our general meetings.
In the News
Humboldt Park was in the news again this year for the 100 for Humboldt Campaign in the Bay View Compass. and OnMilwaukee
“In early April, crews began planting River birch, elm, maple, ironwood, basswood, London planetrees, and chestnut around the lagoon in the center of the park, the lily pond that is adjacent to East Oklahoma Avenue, and on the hillside along South Logan Avenue.”
Tim Richter was awarded as an Invader Crusader for his work in removing invasive cattails in the Humboldt Park Lagoon.”Presented to those whose voluntary or professional efforts in removing invasive species.” Tim is our Lagoon Restoration champion and has chaired and worked on our lagoon restoration committee for years. Tim also organizes the Cat Tail cuts and shore replanting and is currently working with the committee to secure funding for the first round of restoration planning.
The Wisconsin Invasive Species Council issued the award under the administration of Governor Tony Evers.
Humboldt Park Heroes
Humboldt Park provides refuge to people and nature and brings joy to so many residents and visitors. Taking care of our park and promoting its beauty has become the work of many Humboldt Park Heroes.
In an ongoing series of blog posts, we honored and highlighted some of the people that give their time to maintain and promote the park and help protect the urban oasis that we all enjoy. This year we recognize;
If you would like to nominate someone for this recognition please send your suggestions to info@humboldtparkmilwaukee.org.
Tree Day
The Humboldt Park Friends group celebrated another successful Tree Day on October 13th.
Tree Day helps kids in our community schools learn about and appreciate the Trees in Humboldt Park.
Tree Day has been an annual event at Humboldt Park since 1998 and during that time we have had over 2000 students participate in Tree Day activities.
Every year Humboldt Park Friends, Milwaukee County Park Naturalist’s and the City of Milwaukee Urban Forestry Department all donate their time and efforts to this program.
The highlight of the program is the planting of 1 or 2 new trees in the park. Children from local schools are invited to participate by writing their names on a piece of paper that they each drop in the hole before the trees are planted. The paper will help nourish the tree and helps creates a connection between the children and the tree.
The day’s festivities also include a walking tour of the park identifying the various tree species, leaf, seed and bark types. The kids also enjoy story time, create a craft and participate in identifying leaves and doing leaf rubbings in a booklet they take home to their families.
Humboldt Park is the only park in the county to have a tree day and because of tree day we are fortunate to plant 1 or 2 new trees every year.
We want to thank the Milwaukee County Park Naturalist’s, the City of Milwaukee Urban Forestry Department and the Humboldt Park Friends volunteers who all made this event possible. A big thank you to Kyle Arpe from Silver City Productions for putting this video together. As always this event would not be possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers.
Park Clean Up
The Humboldt Park Friends group with the help of many volunteers conducted a park clean-up on April 17th. We set up a command post at the pavilion split the park into quadrants and distributed tools from the Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful to our volunteers. Every volunteer that participated received a Humboldt Park Friends t-shirt.
In closing
2020 was a really challenging year for a lot of people as it was for Parks. Parks was hit hard by county spending freezes implemented as a result of COVID-19, and by the loss of revenues from the closure and delayed opening of the majority of our revenue-generating activities, projecting a $10 million deficit in 2020.
We have big challenges ahead and we approach the new year with enthusiasm and a sense of duty to make our park the best it can be. We envision a park with more trees, a healthier lagoon and improved safety and lighting. How do you think the Park should improve?
Our mission continues to be to engage the Bay View neighborhood and greater Milwaukee communities and to foster park stewardship through volunteering, preserving park history, improving park amenities and safety, and sponsoring events and programming for education and enjoyment of Humboldt Park.We cannot accomplish the many things we do without the support of our all volunteer board;
Michael Bubolz, President, 100 for Humboldt Chair
Steven Blank, Vice President
Ignacio Catral, Membership Chair
Laureen Stirmel, Secretary, Easter Egg Hunt, and Tree Day Chair
Lori LaGrow, Treasurer
Timothy Richter, Lagoon Restoration Committee Chair
Dani Graf, Easter Egg Hunt, and Bocce Benefit Committee
Susan Catral, Communications Committee Chair
Patrick McSweeney, Lagoon Restoration Committee
Thank you to our members, volunteers, and local businesses. Thank you again for your membership. If you are not a member, please consider giving the gift of a better neighborhood park for you and your family by becoming a supporter of the park.
Michael Bubolz
President
Humboldt Park Friends