April 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 59

examples of community partners who may have an interest
in improving water quality,
reducing public health risks
and improving recreational
opportunities. A one-time
partnership can blossom into
other great opportunities for
all parties involved.
6WURQJ 'DWD Research, research, research: Make sure
that the data you have are
accurate. Ensure that the evidence you have is correct
and accurate. For help understanding the data or getting
more supporting data, reach
out to your local public health
agency, natural resources
agencies and institutions of
higher learning that focus on
environmental research, water quality
or public health. This is a great way to
start a collaborative effort or partnership to fix a local problem.
%LJ3LFWXUH&RQFHSW'HVLJQ Think
big. Instead of just focusing your
project on improving water quality by doing a beach redesign at a
small beach, think about the entire
area. Can park amenities be added
to improve the area, can playground
equipment be implemented or improved and can a picnic area be added? Most important, find out what
would your community like to see as
improvements at this beach.
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The architectural and engineering
firms you enlist to help with the design
should listen to the community's suggestions and come up with a concept
design that meets the community's expectations. Again, it's important to ensure that the community knows what a
beach redesign is, how it will affect the
beach and how it could help improve
water quality at the beach.

Wood debris is common along the shoreline
of Maslowski Beach due to the historical use
of the property as a lumber mill at the turn
of the 19th century.

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Grant money is great; it's sometimes
the only way any projects can happen.
Know the particulars of the grant. Is
there a monetary match or are there
in-kind donations to be made? Ensure
that the grant covers the proposed concept design and engineering plans.
The city of Ashland, Wisconsin, is in
the process of doing a beach redesign and
restoration project at Maslowski Beach
- one of its most popular, oldest and im-

paired beaches in Chequamegon
Bay on Lake Superior. From 2003
to the present, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
has tested the water at Maslowski Beach for E. coli two days per
week, starting from Memorial
Day through Labor Day. Because
of the elevated E. coli levels that
have been found there, the beach
has been on the state of Wisconsin's 303(d) Impaired Waters List.
As a result, Maslowski Beach has
benefited from several grant-funded projects, such as increased sanitary surveys, initial beach redesign, purchase of a beach
groomer, increased water quality monitor in
Chequamegon Bay and
tributaries, social survey
data and a plan to educate beach users about
water quality issues.
Project partners include
the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh,
the
Ashland County Health
Department, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the Mary
Griggs Burke Center for
Fresh Water Innovation -- Northland
College, the Center for Rural Communities, and the Applied Research and Environmental Lab.
Now, through a U.S. EPA Shoreline
Green Infrastructure grant and based on
new data, the city will be working with
SmithGroupJJR, an integrated architecture, engineering and planning firm, to
do a beach redesign and restoration project at Maslowski Beach.
Sara Hudson is Director of the City of Ashland's
(Wisconsin) Parks and Recreation Department
and Bretting Community Center
(shudson@coawi.org).

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April 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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