Chapter 3 | Park, Open Space & Recreation Inventory

Athletic Field

12-acre community park located in the northwest part of the City on the corner of DeClark St., Liberty St., Gilmore St., and Grove St. This park provides a lighted basketball court, two lighted tennis courts, two lighted Little League diamonds, a batting cage, two concession stands, water fountains, restrooms, and playground equipment.

Bayside Park

7.7-acre special purpose park located on the west side of Beaver Lake off CTH G on Airport Rd. The site includes 0.5acre peninsula into Beaver Dam Lake, which lies within the City limits. This undeveloped park provides for quiet recreational pursuits such as fishing and picnicking. There are fishing points, grassy areas, grills, a parking area, portable toilets, and picnic tables. The remainder of the site lies within the Town of Beaver Dam and will likely be important as the City limits extend westward and development in the area increases.

Cotton Mill Park

A 0.7-acre special purpose park located on the easterly edge of Beaver Dam Lake on Haskell St. and West St. The site includes a popular fishing point on Beaver Dam Lake, a grassy area with benches, grills, tables, and portable toilets.

Crystal Lake Park

A 42.3-acre community park located ½ mile outside the City on STH 33 and Crystal Lake Road. Crystal Lake is a small lake that was created by the development of a dam across Crystal Creek. Although only 8.5 acres, the lake provides valuable public swimming and fishing areas. The park is centered around two spring-fed bodies of water, and provides a wide variety of active and passive recreational opportunities on a year-round basis. In the winter, the park boasts a 2 mile cross-country ski trail, as well as a sledding hill with a toboggan chute, and an ice-skating rink. The park also provides a swimming beach with a bathhouse, an 18hole disc golf course, jogging trails, restrooms, 2 volleyball courts, a softball diamond, multiple storage sheds, and playground equipment. The park is used for fishing activities and day-camp programs. It is handicap-accessible. The park also has three different community facilities that are available for groups: 2 shelters, and the Crystal Building. The Crystal Building seats approximately 72 adults, and provides a kitchen area, electricity, a fireplace, candy and soda machines. The Crystal West shelter seats approximately 60 adults. It includes a serving window and counter for food, electricity, tables, grills, portable toilet, volleyball sand court, and toboggan chute (seasonal).

The Crystal East shelter seats approximately 35 adults and provides grills, portable toilets, and a grass volleyball court.

Edgewater Park

A 158.7 acre community park located on the northern edge of the City, off of STH 33 West. The site is focused around Natures Pond, a six acre pond. The park also provides handicap-accessible fishing ramps and piers, and restrooms. There are two boat launching ramps, as well as car and boat trailer parking lot and ramp. The park also features scenic walks, lagoons, a shelter, and a dog-friendly area.

Hick’s Overlook

A special purpose park located on STH 33, off McKinley Beach Rd, before Edgewater Park. It provides a parking area, a portable toilet, and a shelter with tables and grills.

Lakeview Park

A 10.3-acre community park located between W. Burnett St. and Mary St. The park provides for a mixture of passive and active recreation activities: a shelter with grills, a lighted basketball court, a Little League baseball diamond, a softball diamond, two lighted tennis courts, a grass volleyball court, indoor and outdoor restrooms, and a playground area. The park has been adopted by the local Lions’ Club which provides assistance with annual maintenance.

Lincoln Park

A 1.5-acre neighborhood park located on N. University Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. This busy park provides a lighted basketball court, a handicap-accessible playground, restrooms, tables, and two lighted tennis courts.

Minnie’s Meadow Park

An undeveloped reserve located next to Prairie View School on Burnett St./HWY E. There are no facilities at this time.

Patrick Parker Conley Park

A 2.5 acre park located on Fletcher Road and is home to the BMX Pump Track.

Riverside Park

A 8.3-acre greenbelt along the Beaver Dam River on South Center St. and Davis St. The park is undeveloped; there are no facilities at this time.

Roller Ave Park

A 3.2-acre neighborhood park located in the southern portion of the City on Karl St. and Fischer Ave. This park provides a baseball diamond that is used for Little League, as well as a basketball court, grills, a playground area, restrooms, and tables.

Smythe Park

A 4.1-acre neighborhood park. The park provides a lighted basketball court, a youth softball diamond, a playground area, water fountains, and restrooms.

Starkweather Park

A 2.0-acre neighborhood park located on Starkweather Dr. It provides benches, grills, a picnic area, a playground area, tables, and fishing spots.

Stevens Park

A 0.1-acre mini park located on North Spring St. The park provides benches, drinking water, a table, and water fountain. The water fountain is a 6 month attraction, operating midApril through mid-October. It runs on a time from 9am to midnight, 7 days a week.

Swan Park

A 10.5-acre community park located on the corners of S. University Ave, E. Mill St, S. Vita Ave, and E. South St. The park provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including: a band shell, a basketball court, lighted horseshoe pits, large picnic shelters, a playground area, a sand volleyball court, a wading pool with bathhouse, and scenic paths. There are also lagoons that are used for ice-skating during winter months. Several of the structures at Swan Park may be reserved for large groups including the Swan Band Shell, the Swan Mill Shelter, Swan Shelter, the Swan Springhouse, Swan mini #1, and Swan mini #2.

Tahoe Park

A 3.3-acre neighborhood park located on the Beaver Dam Lake on Haskett St. and LaCrosse St. The park features two boat launches, boat trailer parking, fishing piers, as well as ice skating, playground equipment, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, and two shelters.

Vo-Tech Park

A 4.5-acre community park, located in the east-central portion of the City adjacent to USH 151. The park provides girls’ and women’s softball diamonds, with a batting cage and a press box. There is also playground equipment, tables, and portable toilets.

Watermark

The Watermark is a special use community and senior center located in the heart of downtown. It is open year round for various recreation, educational, and social events.

The walking corridor in the building, part of the original design, is one of the most popular features. The community rooms, lounge, pantry, welcome desk and offices are functioning as anticipated and the atmosphere is bright and cheerful thanks to the many windows and open spaces in the building. The final size of the facility at 12,500 sq. ft. eliminated spaces intended to be used as a woodshop, exercise room, gift shop and arts and craft studio. The additional space would have offered a larger community space and room for pool tables as well.

The activities for older adults can grow and we will have an opportunity to start additional programs that appeal to a wider audience. Scheduling is still critical in providing space for days that are very popular and times that best fit participant’s calendars and availability.

Programs for youth, inter-generational and family recreation will be initiated as interest dictates and as space allows. The concept of a community center is new to residents and staff alike and use of the building will be under review as a continuous process. The public perception of the meaning of a community center and the department plans are under consideration and merging together.

Waterworks Park

A 4.6-acre neighborhood park along Beaver Dam Lake at the end of Denning Ave. and Lakeshore Dr. The park offers two boat launching areas, a kayak launch, watercraft rentals, boat trailer parking, handicap accessible fishing piers, a sand volleyball court, an accessible/inclusive playground area, as well as grills, picnic tables, and drinking water. There are also two shelters available for group use.

Programming

The City offers a traditional package of recreational and leisure programs to the community. It is appropriately viewed as a component of a much wider array of providers within the Beaver Dam area. The Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services Department produces bimonthly newsletters to advertise programs, activities, and services for all ages. The department also uses the City website, social media, email blasts, the local media and other resources to share information. A typical rotation of activities that are offered for all ages is: youth day camps, sports camps, and enrichment camps; youth golf lessons, gymnastics lessons, and tennis lessons; fitness programs for all ages, special events for all ages, family activities, adult enrichment programs, adult sports programs including pickleball, softball and volleyball. Beyond the regularly scheduled programs there are special annual events sponsored by the City, local civic groups and clubs

A few other regular programs within the City are privately operated. The Beaver Dam School and Beaver Dam United Soccer Club offer a variety of youth soccer programs for ages 6-19. Beaver Dam Youth Softball and Baseball offers a variety of programs for ages 4-16, and the Beaver Dam Tornados is a competitive traveling club for girls aged 6-18. Other sports clubs include Beaver Dam Positively Hoops, a competitive, traveling tournament basketball club for boys and girls in grades 3-8; Beaver Dam Youth Football for grades 3-6; and Beaver Dam Youth Wrestling for Kindergartenthrough grade 8.

While the mini and neighborhood parks provide valuable facilities to support the day-to-day needs of City residents, the gems of the City’s park system are community parks and special purpose parks. These facilities provide unique recreational opportunities for City residents and play an important role in attracting tourists and new residents to the City. The following is a more in-depth description of some of the City’s most valued park facilities.

3.2 PRIVATELY-OWNED FACILITIES

Gopher’s Golf Center

A 17-acre driving range located along Ollinger Road located just east of US 151. This special purpose park is privately owned and operated.

Beaver Dam Country Club

A privately-owned and operated special purpose park which provides an 18-hole golf course near Edgewater Park. In the winter, it also provides access to the County Snowmobile Trail System.

Old Hickory Golf Club

A privately-owned and operated special purpose park which provides an 18-hole golf course located approximately two miles east of Beaver Dam along STH 33.

Beaver Dam Conservationists Gun Club

Located just west of the City along CTH G near Bayside Park.

Charter Raceway Park

A privately-owned and operated competitive motor sports 1/3 mile oval track located near the intersection of US 151 and STH 33. The park offers a variety of race events from April through September.

YMCA of Dodge County

The YMCA is located at 220 Corporate Drive in a 60,000 square foot facility built in 2007. Amenities include family adventure water park, youth & teen fitness center, adult locker rooms, competitive swimming pool, cardio wellness center, family locker room, gymnasium, strength training, child care center, racquetball courts, aerobics/dance studio, and outdoor youth soccer fields, ball diamond and playground.

Marshfield Medical Center - Beaver Dam

Located at 707 S. University Drive, the hospital has been caring for the community for 100 years. The public is welcome to walk on the path around the pond on the main campus (7 laps = 1 mile).

3.3 SCHOOL FACILITIES

The City coordinates with the Beaver Dam School District to provide a broader range of park facilities and services to area residents. The City and the School District have an agreement that allows the City to use the schools’ facilities when they are not being used by the School District. The School District also allows other groups to use their facilities, but the City has first priority after the District. The School District is also welcome to use any of the park lands. This reciprocal arrangement works very well and the City/District relationship is very strong. While each entity maintains their own facilities, users show respect for the other property.

Beaver Dam High School provides about 20 acres of recreational land designated as a community park. The site contains a number of sports fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a running track. The running track and main football field are not open to the general public. An open field west of the track can be used for general public activities.

Jefferson Elementary School is a 4.9-acre school-owned recreation site classified as a neighborhood playground. The site serves a variety of recreational needs in the southeast corner of the City. The site contains playground equipment, sports fields, and an arboretum. The ball diamond is for youth baseball, but lacks outfield fencing, a scoreboard, and team benches.

Beaver Dam Middle School provides 0.9 acres of open space recreation classified as a neighborhood playground. This school-owned site provides open play area.

Lincoln Elementary School provides 1.9-acre neighborhood playground. The site offers playground apparatus, with a minimal amount of open play area.

Prairie View Elementary provides several areas for recreation including multiple play areas with play equipment.

St. Katharine Drexel School offers 0.9 acres of open space.

St. Stephen’s School offers 0.7 acres of open space. There is a small playground area with equipment.

Washington Elementary School provides a 6.5-acre neighborhood playground in the north-central part of the City. The site contains a large open playfield, two playground areas, and a paved play area.

Wayland Academy is a private education institution with approximately 25 acres of land for outdoor active recreation. It is classified as a community park, as the site contains football fields, soccer fields, a baseball and a softball diamond, tennis courts, and a running track. The site is intended to serve the recreational needs of its students; however, organized youth baseball is allowed to use the field. There are signs indicating that the facilities are not to be used by the general public. The City uses the fieldhouse for adult volleyball leagues.

Wilson Elementary School offers a 1.8-acre neighborhood playground.

3.4 COUNTY FACILITIES

Astico Park

Located about 11 miles south of Beaver Dam, just east of Columbus, this 100-acre park is on the Crawfish River and features campsites, hiking trails, canoe/kayak rentals, fishing access, picnic shelters, and more.

Derge Park

Located northwest of Beaver Dam, this 13-acre park provides access to the 6,600 acre Beaver Dam Lake and features campsites, a boat launch, fishing access, and picnic shelters.

Ledge County Park

Located about 14 miles east of Beaver Dam, near the Horicon Marsh, this 83-acre park lies along the Niagara Escarpment and provides a breathtaking over-look of the Horicon Marsh. The park features campsites, hiking trails, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and scenic overlooks.

Nitschke Mounds Park

Located about 6 miles east of Beaver Dam and adjacent to the Wild Goose Trail, this 54-acre park features 39 pre-historic animal effigy, conical, and linear mounds with an interpretive trail through the park.

Wild Goose State Trail

Located about 6 miles east of Beaver Dam, this trail links the city of Juneau to the city of Fond du Lac and skirts the western edge of the Horicon Marsh. It is a 34-mile limestone multi-use trail on an abandoned railroad grade. Biking and hiking are the primary uses of the trail.

Gold Star Memorial Trail

There are a total of 5 proposed phases to link Mayville, Horicon, and Beaver Dam together, with an estimated completion date (dependent upon funding) in 2027. Phase I of the trail opened in June 2019 and spans 2.1 miles from Theiler Park (City of Mayville) to the Horicon Marsh Education & Visitor Center. Phases 2-3, which will connect the trail to Beaver Dam, are currently in the planning and design process.

3.5 REGIONAL PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Beaver Dam is in the southeastern portion of the WDNR’s South Central Region and is well served by regional parks and open spaces. There are a variety of other park and recreational facilities within close proximity to the City of Beaver Dam in public and private ownership. The following list provides the most significant facilities within the Beaver Dam region that residents most likely would use. It is not an exhaustive list, but provides a variety of recreational activities. For more information, contact the representative websites.

Dodge County Fairgrounds

The County grounds are located approximately four miles east of Beaver Dam along STH 33. The non-profit Dodge County Fair Association runs the fairgrounds and the 40 acre site includes multipurpose facilities for hosting various expos, concerts, racing events, and community fairs.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities

The majority of the City is served with sidewalks on at least one side of the road, providing safe pedestrian access to park facilities. The WDNR has established the Wild Goose State Trail, a 34-mile county-operated trail along the western edge of the Horicon Marsh from Fond du Lac to Clyman Junction.

Beaver Dam Lake

Beaver Dam Lake is a 6,718 acre lake with a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake provides opportunities for fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing and swimming. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye.

State Wildlife Areas

A few Wisconsin State Wildlife areas are located near Beaver Dam and include Shaw Marsh State Wildlife Area, a wetland and scattered Prairie located 7 miles south of Beaver Dam offering opportunities for birding, cross county skiing, geocaching, hiking, hunting, trapping, wild edible gathering and wildlife viewing.

Paradise Marsh State Wildlife Area is 1,588 acres in nearby Columbia County, 17 miles from Beaver Dam, the marsh provides habitat for a variety of wildlife and migratory waterfowl. The Park offers opportunities for birding, Cross country skiing, hiking (undesignated trails) hunting, trapping, wild edible gathering and wildlife viewing.

Horicon Marsh

The Horicon Marsh is 17 miles outside of Beaver Dam and is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is the federally managed, and covers the northern two-thirds the marsh and consists of 21,417 acres. The Horicon State Wildlife Area makes up the southern one-third of the Horicon Marsh and is 11,009 acres.

The Marsh is recognized as a Wetland of International importance by Ramsar Convention of the United Nations. The Marsh has an Education and Visitor Center with Wildlife Education programs that focus on the abundance of wildlife resources of the marsh, their ecology and applied management.