Friends of McDermott Park
A Park for All Seasons and All People in the Heart of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
From left to right, John Redmond (City of Fond du Lac Parks Superintendent), Jessica Terrien (Grant Specialist in the office of Community Financial Assistance in the DNR), Janelle Anderson (Friends of McDermott Park) and Jordan Skiff (City of Fond du Lac, Director of Public Works).
City of Fond du Lac Receives State Grant for McDermott Park Trails
The City of Fond du Lac has received a $50,500 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) for a new multi-use trail through McDermott Park.
This grant is the result of city staff submitting a grant application in 2018 to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program. The staff worked with a citizens group called the Friends of McDermott Park to compile the information needed for the grant.
The new asphalt trails will be eight feet wide for use by walkers, bikers, people with strollers and in wheelchairs, and will make it possible to travel through McDermott Park.
From the southwest corner of the park on Merrill Avenue, the trail will run along the west side of the tennis courts, then it will move east into the center of the park at which point it will split with one leg giving access to the shelter area, restrooms and playground on the northeast corner.
The main leg will turn west toward DeNeveu Creek and exit McDermott Park on Johnson Street.
Every Penny Counts!
The Friends are looking to you – our citizens and community partners – for financial support to complete this wonderful enhancement to McDermott Park, thus leaving a legacy for generations to come.
Make your online donation at the Fond du Lac Foundation.
Hit the Donate online link, then select “other funds” and type in “McDermott Park Fund.”
Development Stages
Phase I
North South multi-purpose trail with spur to the playground and shelter.
To be completed in the summer of 2020.
Phase II
Add trees, flower beds, benches, learning nodes.
To be completed in the summer of 2021.
Phase III
Add plaza, casual seating and gathering area.
To be completed in the summer of 2022.
McDermott Park Master Plan Highlights
In 2016, The Friends of McDermott Park worked with a capstone program from UW-Madison School of Landscape Architecture to compile a master plan for McDermott Park. In May of 2017, the Fond du Lac City Council approved the McDermott Park master plan. Below are some highlights from the plan.
Here are the ways the McDermott Park Master Plan Enhances the Park:
Makes the park work for a variety of activities and all ages of people
Makes it an all season park for all people
Is a welcoming beacon for travelers coming into the city from the east side
Connects the neighborhoods on the north and south
Makes the existing features (playground, tennis courts, etc) more accessible to people by introducing paths
Introduces educational spaces with a variety of plantings (trees,shrubs, native pernennial plants)
A place of serenity and beauty in the heart of the city
Ties in with initiatives to get people active outside
Makes McDermott a destination park
Gives Fond du Lac a new place to visit and spend time at
Makes Fond du Lac more attractive as a place to live, do business
Trees/plantings will help absorb water in times of flooding.
Tax-deductible donations of $50 or more can be made online to the McDermott Park Fund through the Fond du Lac Area Foundation’s website. Hit the Donate online link, then select “other funds” and type in “McDermott Park Fund.”
Checks may be mailed to:
Fond du Lac Area Foundation/McDermott Park Fund
384 N. Main Street, Suite 4
Fond du Lac, WI 54935