A tranquil reprise from the city:
Just off of Capitol Drive in the community of Shorewood, just north of Milwaukee sits Hubbard Park. A five acre area sitting along the east bank of the Milwaukee River with the Oak Leaf Recreation Trail running through it.
With the Hubbard Park Lodge restaurant and beer garden, the park is very popular spot throughout the entire year since the restaurant is open year round to the public for Friday fish fry's, Sunday brunch and all other days for private events. When asked what they liked about the park, some individuals noted that they like how this park makes them feel like they are in a forest while still in the city. One employee mentioned that even when he is not working, he likes to visit the park when he's not working and likes everything about the park event though he wishes that the park was advertised more since people mainly learn of the park through word of mouth and that there was some way to preserve the forest while increasing accessibility to the park itself. |
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From hunting grounds to parks: Before the community of Shorewood existed, the area where Hubbard Park is located has been a place of interest. In the 18th and 19th century, explorers noted that the area was good hunting grounds that were used by Native Americans. In 1872 a successful resort near the river was established. With the growth of the rail industry and subsequent growth of Milwaukee, investors saw this almost untouched area as an ideal place to create and attraction for the residents of Milwaukee. In 1900 the Coney Island Amusement Park opened,which changed its name is Wonderland in 1905 and Ravenna in 1909. While the amusement park was a success and became a destination of the Midwest, as the local community of Shorewood grew the residents began to mind the amount of traffic and tourism. In 1922 the President of the Village of Shorewood, William J. Hubbard bought the land, to create Hubbard Park.
Once the remnants of the amusement park was cleared away, several clubs and groups used the park, including the; Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Shorewood River Club which was able to create a building with funding from the WPA. Since it's creation Hubbard Park has been a beloved part of the Shorewood community. http://www.villageofshorewood.org/148/Parks |