Your membership is important to Humboldt Park. It contributes to the events and activities of HPF and supports our mission of fostering park stewardship through volunteering, preserving park history, improving park amenities and safety, sponsoring events and programming for education and enjoyment of Humboldt Park. We accomplish this through enhanced funding, the application of effective advocacy, and expanded stewardship.

Here are some highlights of the work our organization has accomplished this year, and some information about upcoming events in the new year.

Our Park Cleanup had about 50 volunteers helping out and collected about 30 bags of trash from around the park.

We schedule various Park Clean-Ups throughout the year.  Sign up for our newsletter on our website for event info

This spring, Humboldt Park Friends was awarded a $4,100 mini-grant from Sweet Water. The grant helped fund soil preparation and planting of native shoreline vegetation in June as well as costs for the annual cut of cattails and invasive species in October. Work was conducted in two pilot sections of the lagoon. The goal is to test a method of cattail control and shoreline restoration.

Humboldt Park Friends hosted three listening sessions to gather input from the community on desires for the lagoon. We also provided a survey online. Water quality tests were performed and data on water usage was collected. This information will allow the lagoon committee to develop a short and long-term plan for restoration and maintenance

In 2019, HPF will begin working with outside vendors and the County Parks Department to create a well-thought plan. Maintenance will continue for the two pilot sections. Those interested are welcome to join the lagoon committee.

Two Corn Roasts were held this year to fundraise for Humboldt Park Friends. On Saturday, July 21st paired with the St. Francis Brewery Pig Roast and August 14th in conjunction with Chill on the Hill.

The weather for the Corn Roast on Tuesday, August 14th, during Chill on the Hill was beautiful. Pick N’ Save and the Landmark Credit Union once again were generous supporters of the HPF’s Corn Roast. Pick N’ Save donated all the corn and Landmark made a monetary donation. We couldn’t have had a smoother running and more profitable event without our sponsor’s, our corn roasters, the Humboldt Park staff, all our many volunteers and everyone who purchased corn. Thanks to everyone who helped make the Corn Roast a success.

HPF provides snow throwing equipment and continues to work with Greg Stilin and the Bay View Ice Skating group to prepare and maintain an area on our Lagoon where community members can skate.

Last year the group at the community’s request expanded the cleared skating area to include space for both Ice Hockey and recreational skating. HPF’s coordinates with the group and publishes ice conditions on our website and Facebook group.

The Humboldt Park Junior and Senior Ranger Programs are self-guided programs for children ages 5 and up and their families. It is designed to teach children about Humboldt Park’s history, wildlife, geography, and celebrations. Requirements include completing an activity booklet and reciting the park pledge. Children who complete the program will be awarded a special badge to show off their stewardship.

We continue to make improvements to the Ranger Program. This year we redesigned the books to be more portable and user-friendly. We are looking for local sponsorship to produce the new books and supply them free of charge to any kid that is interested in completing the program. If you or anyone you know would be interested in sponsoring the production of the books please contact us.

Humboldt Park is home to one of the largest World War One (WWI) memorial structures in the state of Wisconsin.  WWI ended in 1918, making this year, 2018, the 100 year anniversary of the end of hostilities and declaration of the armistice.  Humboldt Park Friends spent more than a year planning two events designed to mark the centennial, draw community attention to the memorial structure, and to engage with the whole community in honoring the 22 men from the Bay View area who died as a result of their service in WWI.

About 4 million U.S. soldiers were deployed to the European battlefields during 1917-18. More than 100,000 died in combat or from disease. Hostilities officially ended at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

In order to engage with the wider community and to teach the younger generation about the history of WWI and the traditional meaning of Armistice Day, Humboldt Park Friends volunteer Dani Graff reached out to and coordinated with local schools to make red poppies, the symbol of Armistice.  Approximately 550 children participated in making poppies. On Friday, November 9th, participating classes assembled at the Bay View High School auditorium and listened to brief presentations about WWI. The names of the 22 soldiers listed on the memorial structure were read aloud, along with a proclamation from the County Executive.  Next, the children processed from BVHS, escorted by the BVHS drum corps. The group made its way to the memorial structure, first passing through two sentinels — “ silent living statues” in military garb from the era. At the memorial site, a bugler played taps and the children placed all 550 poppies in the ground creating a visual remembrance for the entire community to see.

On Sunday, November 11th, a military honor guard from <<troop number – I think Myron knows this>> brought forth flags and provided a gun salute.  Again, the names of the soldiers killed from the Bay View community were read out, along with the proclamation. Photographs and other memorabilia from WWI were on display in the pavilion, and the group had the opportunity to discuss both the history and the future of the WWI memorial.

Planning is beginning for a formal re-dedication of the WWI memorial structure for the 100 year anniversary of its completion and dedication, which will occur in 2021.  Efforts are also underway to designate the memorial as a historic site.

Participating Schools:
Downtown Montessori Academy, Humboldt Park Elementary, Indian Community School, Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts, Reagan High School, St. Lucas School, Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts Elementary School, and St. Thomas Moore High School.

Planning Committee

Dani Graff (MPS, retired, HPF volunteer)

Mark Flower (veterans advocate, Milwaukee Veteran Treatment Initiative)

Tim Kinney (BV resident, Wisconsin Air National Guard, 128th Air Refueling Wing)

Myron Thomsen (Bay View Inter-Org)

Erika Petterson (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Zeno Franco (Medical College of Wisconsin, HPF board member)

Mark Foreman (Veterans for Peace)

Jenny Urbanek (Downtown Montessori Academy)

Margaret Wisniewski Holtgreive (Reagan High School)

Special Thank You to our Generous Donors:

This effort was made possible primarily through about 50 small, individual donations from members of the community ranging from $5-$500.  We would like to thank the following individuals in particular for their generous support:

• American Legion Post #180 (Bay View)

• Mr. George Banda

• Drs. Jeffrey & Donna Whittle

• Mr. Richard Pues

• Mrs. Mary Regano

Co-Sponsoring Organizations

• Bay View Interorganizational Council

• Veterans for Peace, Milwaukee Chapter

• Milwaukee County Parks System

• Medical College of Wisconsin – Community Engagement Mission

2018 was a good year for the park and for Humboldt Park Friends and we approach the new year with enthusiasm and a sense of duty to make our park the best it can be.  We cannot accomplish the many things we do without the support of our board, our members, volunteers, and local businesses. Thank you again for your membership. If you are not a member, in this season of giving, please consider a gift to yourself, a gift of a better neighborhood park.

We are actively looking for motivated individuals to join our volunteer board. We have big plans for the future and could use all the support we can muster. Contact us if you would be interested in joining our board.