Lake Geneva conducting survey to help develop plan for parks and lakefront
Lake Geneva residents are being asked what types of park and lakefront amenities they would like to see established in the future.
A survey has been posted on the city’s website, www.cityoflakegeneva.gov, which asks questions about how parks, the lakefront area and recreational programs could be improved. Responses may be submitted through July 31.
Results will be used to help the city develop the Land to Lake: Lake Geneva Parks and Lakefront System Plan.
Lake Geneva officials have posted a survey on the city’s website, www.cityoflakegeneva.gov, which asks residents what types of amenities they would to see in Lake Geneva’s park and lakefront areas.
Vandewalle & Associates Inc. of Madison has been hired to help the city develop the plan.
“There’s going to be many things that people are going to be interested in and what they want to see happen,” Jackie Mich, principal planner for Vandewalle & Associates, said during a joint Piers, Harbors and Lakefront Committee and Board of Park Commissioners meeting June 23. “But we want to work with you to prioritize those recommendations, so we know what to tackle first.”
Mich said pop-up events also will be held to obtain additional input from residents.
“Those are opportunities to hear directly from people with specific insights, things we wouldn’t get from a public meeting or survey,” Mich said. “We’re trying to spread the word as far and wide as possible.”
During the June 23 meeting, committee and commission members discussed programs and amenities they would like to see implemented, including a more connected trail system.
“We have some trails that are extremely dangerous to use by the ‘Y,’” Board of Park Commissioners member Peggy Schneider said. “We have a senior center down the road from that area, and it would really be nice to able to have access.”
Other members proposed a community center that would feature basketball courts, classrooms, meeting and event space, a fitness center and a community kitchen.
Alder Cindy Yager, who is a member of both the piers committee and park board, said she would like to have more amenities included in the neighborhood parks.
“There are many small parks in neighborhoods that are not being utilized for anything right now,” Yager said. “They’re just an empty lot in a location.”
Alder Linda Frame said she would like more picnic areas.
“I remember when there were so many areas where people could picnic and there were things for families to do in the parks,” Frame said. “Now other than Seminary Park and Donian Park, that’s about the only picnic tables you’re going to find unless there’s a picnic table under a shelter.”
Mich said she has talked with several residents who would like the community to offer more programs for younger children and senior citizens.
“There seems to be limitless demand for programming for young families with pre-K aged kids and a lot of demand for seniors,” Mich said. “I was at the YMCA and the library and they were talking about how they just can’t create enough programming for those groups. So, there’s definitely a gap there that can be filled right away.”
Lake Geneva officials are working on the Lake to Land: Lake Geneva Parks and Lakefront System Plan, which is set to include amenities and programs for the city’s park and lakefront areas.
Other ideas that were proposed include community swimming, hockey rink, pedestrian bridge, more boat piers along the lakefront area and increased kayak storage areas.
A first draft of the plan is set to be presented in September, with updated drafts presented in October and December.
The Parks and Lakefront System Plan is expected to be completed in February 2027.
“There’s multiple phases that we will be going through. Right now, we’re still in the take-off stage,” Mich said. “After we have all that information and input, we will go into the draft plan development.”
