2012 Park Programs and Events
Our new park naturalist is onboard an getting ready for summer programming. Watch for a complete list coming soon.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING and PARK CLEAN UP
SATURDAY - APRIL 28th - Rain or Shine
High Cliff State Park, Sherwood, 920-989-1106 Work*Play*Earth Day: Arbor Day Tree Planting and Clean-up Day.
Meet at the Pavillion in the Upper Park at 9 a.m. to receive trees for planting and garbage bags for litter pickup. The
Friends of High Cliff State Park will be providing a noontime lunch. Groups of six or more are asked to pre-register.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels and gloves.
A state park vehicle admission sticker is not required for volunteers. Park Pavilion. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Reviving the Butterfly Pond
We’ve got some exciting news not only for the visitors to High Cliff State Park but for the entire Fox Cities community.
During April’s FOHC Board of Directors meeting, a motion was passed to partner with McMahon Engineering to create a two year plan that will redesign the Butterfly Pond area of the park. Based on preliminary analysis already completed by McMahon Engineering and former FOHC President Jeff Samida, the engineering study and development of the renovation plan is underway.
Phase One is intended to include relocation of the foot bridge from its current location near the old spillway to an area spanning the drainage creek from the upper ponds into the Butterfly Pond. Additional components of Phase One include installation of bridge abutments in the new location, the abatement of the current footbridge abutments, dam and spillway area and an expansion of the western part of the Butterfly Pond trail. This would include building a trail closer to the upper ponds area which would allow better access to the wetland areas. Depending on the availability of funds in 2011, Phase One may also include dredging of the main Butterfly Pond to a depth of 15 to 20 feet to provide a cold water fishery and dredging of the upper ponds, thereby creating an urban fishing area for the enjoyment of park visitors and the Fox Cities community.
Phase Two may include the dredging of the ponds as outlined above if not completed in Phase One and would also include trail upgrades around the Butterfly Pond, large scale planting of trees and native plants around the pond area and expansion of the wetlands to provide better habitat for wildlife.
Based on preliminary estimates, the total funds needed to complete all phases of the multi-year Butterfly Pond restoration project will be more than $160,000. The FOHC have established a fund to collect donations for this important effort. We need your support to make this restoration a reality. Donations to this fund may be forwarded to the High Cliff State Park office at W7630 State Park Road, Sherwood, WI, 54169. Checks may be made payable to Butterfly Pond Restoration Fund.
Your support in this project would be truly appreciated. Help us enhance the natural beauty that High Cliff already offers.
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Tracey R. Ellenberg
Friends of High Cliff Board Member
