Lake Park

Yesterday I had the whole day off. Gas prices rose too high for me to drive anywhere too far away, and I was feeling sad about the state of the country and the world, so I thought it'd be a good day to escape for a bit.

I've been wanting to post about Lake Park for some time now so I headed down there on my bike, armed with my camera.

Lake Park holds a special place in my heart. It's such a lovely part of the city I live in, I've worked in the restaurant within the park for two years now, and when I started training for the marathon a year and a half ago, I ran through the park nearly every day. Its beauty and flat pathways guided me when I was just starting out.

It is a truly gorgeous park with a great sense of history and life.

The park was designed by the same man who designed New York City's Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted. His vision "reflected the Romantic style of the great parks of Europe."

He "resisted all attempts at privatization" and wanted the park to be open to the public. He "distinguished between two forms of recreation: 'active' (sports and playgrounds) and 'passive' (walking, attending concerts, enjoying nature) and provided for both, cautioning that 'active' areas not be so large or so many as to disturb persons coming to the park for 'passive' reflection and enjoyment." (Read his entire bio here)

He was commissioned to design the park in 1889 and most of the park was completed within the next decade. The entire fascinating history of Lake Park can be read here.

Today the park is a true reflection of Olmsted's vision: there are plenty of spaces for recreation: tennis courts, the lawn bowling area, the golf course, the playground, and the open spaces for baseball, frisbee, etc; but there is also much room for strolling, sitting, and daydreaming.

Paved and dirt paths lead all throughout the park, and the bright blue of Lake Michigan can be seen through the trees along the pathways. The view from the grand staircase (right under the Pavillion - and the Lake Park Bistro) is breathtaking. Many couples get married on that staircase, and many more have their wedding day pictures taken in the park.

Random, steep paths lead down through the woods to the lakefront and the old, sturdy bridges tower above the ravine.

When I'm at work, customers always ask about the building they're in. I tell them that the Pavillion was built at the beginning of the century and was used for musical performances and picnics and meetings until the restaurant was opened in 1995. Joe Bartolotta only rents the space from the county - and the lower level is still public property used for county meetings and other events.

The restrooms down there are public park restrooms. There are bulletin boards down there that show old black and white photographs from when the Pavillion was first built and I am fascinated every time I look at them. I was going to take pictures of those boards yesterday, but a meeting was being held down there so I didn't go in. There are some black and white photos on the Lake Park Friends site, though, that I'm going to use below. They're really cool.

My bike ride wasn't as long as I would have liked - I was gone about an hour and covered around seven miles. Allergy season is here and the outdoors have become a bit of an enemy. My red eyes and itchy nose and throat are looking forward to the first frost of the season!

Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took yesterday, along with some of the historical black and white photos, courtesy of the Lake Park Friends site.

The park

The bridges

 

View from the stairs

The light house

The golf course

         

Lawn bowling

         

And in the beginning…

I love these pictures! For the whole gallery, you can go here.

For more on the golf course, go here and for more on lawn bowling, go here.

Comments

[Derek]

I enjoy the park as well. VERY nice job writing about it!

[Cindy]

I absolutely love reading about your adventures Erin! I have been a frequent visitor to Lake Park, but had no idea about its history. I flock to the park during my lunch hour to find a quiet and peaceful place for a picnic in an effort to break up a hectic day. The cool lake breeze and occasional hello to runners/bikers passing by is just what I need in the middle of the day.

And it is funny that you bring up all the weddings/pictures that take place in the park. I am getting married in October and we are having our pictures taken looking over the bridge and at various parts of the park. We absolutely love it in there and I cant wait to see it with all the trees changing color!

It wasn't until I moved to Milwaukee (from Chicago) that I could find a place in the middle of the city that offers such beauty, history (I love the fantastic old homes linking the park) and peacefulness.

[Christine]

Great pictures, here via Michele today!

[Sarcasmom]

Sounds like alovely place to go and enjoy the out of doors.

[Carmi]

Hi Erin. Thank you for the describing your park in such vivid words and pictures. I've got an instant connection to this entry: Olmsted also designed Montreal's Mount Royal Park. I grew up there, and lived at the base of the mountain for a number of years. I spent so many summers cycling its myriad paths that I could probably navigate them with my eyes closed.

The catharsis of the soul that you speak of it a hallmark of all of his works.

Here from Michele's. Thanks for visiting my blog...great to e-meet you again!

[moonbatty]

Wonderful pictures! I love the juxtaposition of the new and old. It really does resemble Central park (just a little bit less "overgroom" and a little bit more "suburbia" than CP allows. Love it.) Great history in your post.

So Lake Park is in ... Chicago? (I just woke up not too long ago and am still waiting for ginseng to shock my brain into activity)

Michele sent me.

[indigo]

My most favorite place in Milwaukee!!! I love Lake Park, especially Ravine (st?) that little road that takes you up through the park and deposits you onto Newberry. I used to live on Summit & Newberry, and would take that road up from Lincoln Memorial on the way home from work every day. I ran in the Superun 5k at Lake Park in June, and had to run *up* that stupid little curvy steep hill, lol, I about died! Too steep for running.

Hello Erin!!! Michele kinda sent me today.

[karl]

moonbatty, Lake Park is in Milwaukee.