By Cindy Parker, Grindstone Lake Foundation
In 2018, members of the Grindstone Lake Association gathered for their annual picnic and shared a common concern: what would happen if the 57-acre former cranberry bog on the lake’s southwest shore was developed?
Rather than leave its future to chance, they took action! Early talks led to the creation of the Grindstone Lake Foundation, with a clear vision to protect more than a quarter mile (1,537 feet!) of natural shoreline, safeguard water quality, and create a community-supported nature area for everyone to enjoy.
Turning that vision into reality took an entire community. A generous benefactor provided the loan to purchase the property, while neighbors, lake residents, and supporters raised more than $850,000 to repay it. The Foundation also secured a $200,000 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Surface Water Land Acquisition Grant that permanently protects the land through a conservation easement, ensuring it will remain undeveloped.
Nature Is Making a Comeback
Years of cranberry farming changed how water flowed across the property. As old agricultural infrastructure is removed, the land’s natural hydrology will be restored, allowing native wetlands to return. Healthy wetlands naturally filter water, reduce runoff, provide wildlife habitat, and help keep Grindstone Lake healthy.
A True Community Effort
This project has been powered by volunteers at every step. Local fire departments safely burned deteriorating buildings, volunteers established trails, and the Foundation secured another Wisconsin DNR grant to begin planning the next phase of wetland restoration.
Today, the Grindstone Lake Nature Reserve is open to everyone. Whether you’re walking the trails, watching birds along the shoreline, or simply enjoying the quiet beauty of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, you’re experiencing what can happen when a community comes together to protect a place it loves.
Now that’s a legacy worth sharing!
Did you know?
Those grassy trails weren’t always trails! They were once berms separating cranberry beds. Today, they’re becoming scenic walking paths where visitors can experience the beauty of the restored landscape.