Update 10/15/21

Most of the work for the Lighthouse Grounds Beautification project has been completed. In late September, Public Works staff planted new trees and bushes around the pathway in accordance with the master grounds plan adopted by the Village Board in 2018.

The outstanding items for the project include new flower beds which are scheduled to be installed next year around the circle gathering node by the Wind Point Garden Club. The Village will also be installing new interpretive signs on the history of the Lighthouse and hope to have those installed by the end of this year.  The walking path was completed early in the summer as well as the installation of a new entrance sign for the grounds.

A big thank to you the Village Board, Public Works Staff Brian Beiley and Joe Thoennes, and Lighthouse Keepers Joe & Mary Ann Huser for their hard work and dedication to make this project possible.

                                 

Update 7/20/21 

The new entrance signs were installed today by J. Ewen Design, Inc. with the assistance of Wind Point Public Works staff.  The new sign is much more visible than the previous sign and now matches the color and design of the Village’s other signs at the Administrative Office and Village Green park.  Village staff will install ground lighting for the sign next week with landscaping around the base of the sign scheduled to be completed later in August.

Update 6/29/21 

The Lighthouse pathway is completed and is open for use. Restoration work was done late last week including backfilling, grading and grass seeding.  Now that the pathway is complete the other portions the project will move on to signage, benches and landscaping improvements.

  • Entrance sign:  The installation of the sign is tentatively scheduled for mid to late July.  You can view a rendering of the new sign here.
  • Benches:  Five new composite material benches are scheduled for delivery and installation in early August.  The benches will be located along the pathway as well as the circle gathering node.
  • Historical Signs: New interpretative historical signs are scheduled to be installed on the east side of the grounds later this summer.  Renderings of the signs can be viewed here.
  • Tree/Bush/Flower Plantings:  Village staff is anticipating that planting of new trees, bushes and flowers will occur in late summer or early fall. Wind Point Public Works staff is working with the Wind Point Gardening Club to order flowers for the new planting beds that will be installed in the circle gathering node.  Public Works staff is working on ordering fifteen new trees and bushes that will be planted around the pathway, per the site plan which can be viewed here.

Update 6/17/21 

The pathway at the Lighthouse Grounds is mostly complete. This week crews completed concreate and asphalt work. The contractor will be backfilling and grading the areas around the pathway to match up with the contours of the existing ground. This work should be completed by the end of next week. The contractor will also need to reseed the areas around the path with grass.

Items for the project that still need to be completed include the installation of a new entrance sign, which is anticipated to occur in July. Benches along the pathway are expected to be placed in August.

The planting of landscaping including new trees and bushes is likely to occur sometime in early fall as the current dry weather conditions that we are experiencing is not favorable for new plantings.

  

Update 6/8/21 

The project contractor, Workman Enterprises began excavating the new pathway today.  The excavation should take about three days total.  The contractor schedule for the project is below (weather pending).  All work is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.

Project Schedule

  • June 8-10 Path Excavation
  • June 11- Prep for Concrete Installation
  • June 14- Concrete Installed
  • June 11-15- Stone placed for asphalt
  • June 17-18- Asphalt Pavement installation
  • June 21-25- Restoration and Fence Repair
  • June 28- Final inspection.

Phase 1 of the Lighthouse Grounds Beautification Project will begin this year. The grounds project has been a multi-year planning effort that will enhance the beauty of the grounds, while making it more functional for residents, visitors and events. The plan includes the following improvements:

  • Paved pathway (separate from the driveway and parking area) to provide safer access for pedestrians and bicyclists. The pathway will provide direct connections to the south lawn, lakefront and existing walkways.
  • New historical and entrance signage
  • Memorial brick garden expansion area.
  • Landscaping and amenity improvements.

You can view the full grounds plan here. 

Beginning in the 2019 components of the Lighthouse grounds project where incorporated into the Village’s capital budget.  Delays in the project in 2019 and 2020, which were outside the Village’s control,  led to project being approved for construction in 2021.

On April 22, 2021, the Village Board awarded a bid to Workman Enterprises, LLC, in the amount of $74,976.83 for construction of the pathway portion of the project.  The Village will able to utilize $14,847 in grant funding from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program for the project.  The final cost of pathway is estimated to be $60,102.83.  The original budgeted amount of the project was $100,000. With savings realized from the lower than expected bid, in addition to the grant, the full project will be able to save $39,897.17  from what was originally expected.

The pathway will be constructed of asphalt and will include a 1/4 mile loop on the west side of the Lighthouse Grounds. A detailed copy of pathway plans can be viewed here. 

The construction on the pathway is anticipated to begin around May 17, with final completion scheduled for June 30.

In addition to the pathway, a new entrance sign for the grounds was approved for purchase, the rendering of the sign can be viewed here.