Friends of Lake View Hill Park

04/15/2026

Spring is here - slowly but surely. And so are the long ago planted daffodils! Share some of your pictures in the comments!

10/20/2025

Sharing widely on the Northside. A week from Monday the Packers Ave railroad crossing will be closed for repair!

Starting at 6:00am on Monday, October 27, Packers Avenue (STH 113) will be closed to all traffic at the railroad tracks just north of International Lane to allow CPKC Railroad to replace the deteriorating railroad crossing.The closure is expected to remain in place for approximately four days, with....

10/14/2025

Some great color starting in the park. Post your fall park photo and share it with the neighborhood!

05/29/2025

Update on the path near the water tower!! It has been newly graded and new sand surface laid today by Operation Fresh Start! For many years the black surface has been ripped or folded over in spots so this is a big improvement. Thanks OFS!

05/02/2025

There is still some firewood for the taking on the west side of the property and driveway. Note guidelines for use of a chainsaw on site.

04/29/2025

Purple Martins are back in their Lake View Hill home! Some gourds are still taped shut to prevent sparrows from moving in. Good viewing spot is from the Nurses Dorm monument. Purple Martin are a "Special Concern" species in Wisconsin and the largest of North American swallows. Learn more at https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/biodiversity/home/detail/animals/6388

04/25/2025

For those of you that know the park and for those that are new to our wonderful gem - here are some pretty unique images of the cement pond/cistern area. Friends volunteers have cleared more of the vegetation this year than in recent years. Thanks today to Dane County Human Services staff, the first 2 photos are from the 3rd and 4th floors of the former sanatorium! Others are from the upper ridge trail that can be accessed from the Friends little white building near the east visitor lot or from the west trail that parallels the cemetery. These upper cistern features are part of an historic water feature system that continues down the east side of the hill to Northport Dr.

04/22/2025

Happy Earth Day! Enjoy a walk today in your local neighborhood county park! These bluebells might not be in full bloom yet here but they will be soon. Look for the plants and post a photo in the comments!

02/22/2025

Our county parks staff will continue winter burning in the woods. It is a great time since snow can help contain fire, neighbors don't have their windows open, and the ground can be ready for spring plants to thrive. To learn more see this DNR page.

"Fire is a natural and necessary component of ecosystems such as native prairies and oak openings and pine and oak barrens. Periodic fire is required for regeneration and growth of fire-adapted species within these systems. Land managers use prescribed burning to assist in restoring and maintaining these rare plant and animal communities."
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/forestfire/prescribedfire #:~:text=Fire%20is%20a%20natural%20and,rare%20plant%20and%20animal%20communities.

Prescribed Fire Prescribed fire is the intentional application of fire to a specific pre-planned area, under specific environmental conditions, to accomplish planned land management objectives. Without the use of prescribed burning as a management tool, Wisconsin could lose many of its native grassl...

02/20/2025

Firewood from last week's work is available in a pile at the top of the Human Services driveway on the west of the park. Wood has been cut into firewood size. Additional instructions are posted near the pile! Look for the orange sign.

02/17/2025

You might notice some winter work happening in the park. Last Friday county staff and volunteers continued restoration work in the Northeast section of the woods. This included clearing, stacking and burning to prepare for winter burning. Then grass planting will occur to build a fuel base for fire, the tool of choice. Continued thinning over the next few years will allow the reestablishing of a heavy oak savannah. This is work that has been in process for many years and is getting lcoser and closer.