Fond du Lac's lighthouse reopens at Lakeside Park amid other upgraded amenities

Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter
Updated ·3 min read
Construction zone at the lighthouse in Lakeside Park on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 in Fond du Lac.
Construction zone at the lighthouse in Lakeside Park on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 in Fond du Lac.

FOND DU LAC – Summer is well under way in Fond du Lac, and many Lakeside Park amenities have welcomed back patrons for the year.

Lighthouse access is back this year after renovations, and other aspects of both Lakeside Park and Lakeside Park West across the river, have gotten a facelift to improve casual recreation and access to Lake Winnebago.

The city will host a ribbon-cutting for the Lakeside Park improvements June 29, unveiling the lighthouse and Lighthouse Drive at 10 a.m., followed by the Lakeside Park West boardwalk at 11 a.m.

Symbolic lighthouse reopens after repairs

The lighthouse closed to the public in September 2021 so the city could address water damage and other repairs, which Public Works Director Paul Devries said at the time was necessary to maintain the lighthouse and keep it safe for all to enjoy.

Further inspection revealed some of the wooden studs beneath the lighthouse's siding were rotted, but not so deeply that the structure of the lighthouse was of concern, City Manager Joe Moore said later that fall.

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The repairs that followed included adding more protection between the wood and siding to help the wood last even longer.

Lighthouse Drive gets fresh pavement, new parking

Adjacent to the lighthouse, Lighthouse Drive has been closed since March for improvements to the pavement, as well as updates to the peninsula.

Over the last few months, construction crews replaced the deteriorating pavement and added street lighting, new trees and a multi-use path around the peninsula that connects to existing sidewalks.

Additionally, crews extended the lakefront parking lot and added angled parking by the docks on the other side of the peninsula.

Lakeside Park West boardwalk

At right, Lakeside Park West sits across the river from Lakeside Park and the city of Fond du Lac's wastewater treatment plant.
At right, Lakeside Park West sits across the river from Lakeside Park and the city of Fond du Lac's wastewater treatment plant.

The boardwalk in Lakeside Park West, announced in 2020, has now come to fruition, leading into Supple Marsh.

Next for the park is a pedestrian bridge connecting Lakeside Park with Lakeside Park West. The plans were unveiled in January, with construction under way yet this year.

Concessions and other amenities are open: here's what's in store

Lighthouse Grill & Sweets, the concession stand inside the pavilion, is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Operated by Los Mezcales Bar & Grill, the menu includes burgers, hot dogs, walking tacos and elote.

The ice cream trailer by the playground is also open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. Both will operate through Labor Day.

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Lakeside Park Rides is open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, while the Lakeside Park Petting Zoo is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The splash pad in the playground is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — or until dusk — daily, weather depending.

Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac lighthouse reopens at Lakeside Park amid other upgrades