OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The second biggest park in Oshkosh is finally in its planning stages.
Lakeshore Park uses to be the Lakeshore Golf Course, but Oshkosh Corporation is using part of the site to build its new headquarters.
Along the Fox River and Lake Butte Des Morts in Oshkosh, Todd Reigh tells FOX 11 he has his own vision of what Lakeshore Park should look like.
“We come down here to fish quite a few times every year. I hope they set that side out mostly for kids, things of that nature, playgrounds and such, but leave this side for fishing.”
The Oshkosh Corporation headquarters is expected to be complete in October. But what’s left is 70 acres for the city’s new park.
A consulting firm, SmithGroup, met with the Oshkosh Advisory Park Board Monday to create a Master Plan.
“Definitely keeping plenty of focus on the fishing side of things, explore opportunities for canoe and kayak, that came up,” said Kathleen Duffy, a planner for SmithGroup.
Duffy said because Lakeshore Park is close to other parks, it’s important not to duplicate park programs.
“It’s exciting to look at the system of parks… all the parks nearby and how those work as a system.”
The group had several ideas, with the help of citizens like Alex Hummel.
“We hope it includes multifaceted trail, obviously it’ll feature the riverwalk and connect to that system. We try to run on that every week when we can, it’s beautiful, it’s distinctive.”
The board will have a public input meeting on June 10th. An online POLCO survey will be released next week.
“This park belongs to the City of Oshkosh and they need to be the ones that make the decision,” said the City’s Deputy Mayor, Steve Herman.
Although Reigh is excited for what’s in store, he told FOX 11, he’ll never forget the former golf course.
“I enjoyed the golf course, going to miss the golf course quite a bit.”.
City leaders hope to have a final plan by October to present to the common council.
