SEYMOUR, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Seymour’s Lake and Beach has reopened.
That’s a big deal because it had been closed for almost 14 years. The city couldn’t staff it with enough lifeguards.
Even though that’ll still be the case, there are some changes.
Historically, Seymour’s Lake has been a place where you could swim, fish, and enjoy the outdoors.
Long-time resident Barb Luepke tells FOX she remembers what it was like.
“They used to have concessions stands, they used to have a lot of stuff here.”
Luepke says she’s happy that tradition will now continue.
“When I walked in after they reopened the gates, it looks pristine. They’ve done a really good job.”
The man-made lake reopened Memorial Day weekend.
Seymour Alderman Roger Behnke says it had been closed to the public since 2004.
“They couldn’t find lifeguards consistently. And the board at the time decided that they rather not have swim at your own risk. So, they closed it.”
Behnke says after some push back the city council agreed to bring back the lake….under the conditions, that it would be ‘swim at your own risk.’
He says the work to restore the area began last fall.
“During that time weeds grew up and it became a pond, not a lake. Our public works department came down and at that point took care of all the tall weeds, cleaned it up a bit.”
And there are some additional features he says they’re looking to add.
“I got an estimate on how much it would be to maybe stock it with some bass or bluegills. So, in the future people can bring their kids here and ice fish in winter.”
Sharing what were her childhood memories at the lake, with her grandkids, Luepke says she hopes it remains around for generations to come
“We will come here more frequently,” she told FOX 11.
Maintaining the lake and beach area is costing the city around $5,000 a year.
