New Trees, Trail Plan Coming for Fish Creek

The observation pier at Fish Creek Beach. 2021 file photo by Andrew Kleidon.

Four new trees will be planted at Fish Creek beach this spring, the Gibraltar Parks and Lands Committee announced Feb. 8. An elm will be planted to replace a recently planted tree that blew down during a wind storm last year, and the others are meant to eventually provide shade and repair the canopy that was lost when the property was clear-cut for beach expansion and improvements. 

Two sunset locusts will be planted in memory of Kathy Johnson, and one fiesta maple was donated by Andrea Kinsey-Jauquet, Nancy Sargent and Barb McKesson. 

The Parks and Lands Committee is also working on ways to make more people aware of the trails at Fish Creek Park, located in the center of Fish Creek across from the entrance to Peninsula State Park and bordering the new parking lot behind the town offices. Trail-entry signage was removed when the parking lot was built.

“We have this beautiful, 29-acre park, and people don’t know what it is,” said committee chair Laurie Buske. 

The committee is working on new trail mapping and signage to make better use of the property and plans to review a proposal later this spring for a disc-golf course at the park. 

The committee is also reviewing options for repairing the wall at Sunset Park. Buske said a section of the wall has been undermined by high water in recent years, exposing roots and creating a possible hazard. Engineer Mike Kahr advised the town that it should put riprap along the outside of the entire wall. 

The town board is debating whether to take a minimalist approach to improvements at the park or embark on a more holistic project that could include redesigning the turnaround at the end of Main Street past the White Gull Inn. Committee member Andrea Kinsey-Jauquet expressed concern that the scope of the project should not include dramatic changes to the park and tree removal. Her comments agitated fellow committee and town board member Jayson Merkel, who said the town has no set plans for the park. 

“The rumors that are out there are just rumors,” he said. “We’re just trying to get information. Everyone is trying to blow this out of proportion right away.”