Sheboygan's hidden parks and public spaces

14 lesser known parks exist throughout the City of Sheboygan

Jun 16, 2025

SHEBOYGAN — There are 36 public parks in the City of Sheboygan but 14 of those are lesser known due to a lack of signage and knowledge that they even exist.

This summer, WKTS News is taking an in-depth look at the City of Sheboygan Parks System led by Joe Kerlin, the city’s Superintendent of Parks & Forestry. We’ll take a look at the state of the parks, how the park system is operated, the costs involved, how and when the parks are maintained, and what happens when parks are neglected or even forgotten about.

Kuehne Court Park

Originally called Kuehne Court Playground, this 3-acre public park is owned by the Sheboygan Area School District. It has a basketball court, baseball diamond, playground equipment with woodchips, benches and trash cans. At some point, the tennis courts were removed and replaced with a parking lot for 30 vehicles.

The land was donated in 1929 and the City of Sheboygan opened the playground in 1930. Ownership of the park was eventually transferred to the Sheboygan Area School District's Community Recreation Department.

Julson Park

Access to this City of Sheboygan public park is via South 22nd Street and through the parking lot of the former Nemschoff Chairs Plant. It makes up the undeveloped 15-acre Sheboygan River Parkway that was planned but never built along the north bank of the river. The majority of the parking lot for SACO AEI Polymers on Julson Court is actually owned by the city.

The park is considered a conservancy area. It has been suggested to construct the Wildwood River Trail along the Sheboygan River between New Jersey Avenue and the Taylor Drive Beltline. The city has no current plans to build such a trail as of 2025.

Creekside Conservancy

Located on South 18th Street at Fox Hill Road, the 7.47-acre parkland is considered a conservancy by the City of Sheboygan. It is made up mostly of wet and low areas along the north bank of the Fisherman’s Creek from South 18th Street to the east along the creek to behind 2219 Creekside Court to the west. Beyond a “No Dumping” sign hidden by tree branches, there is no signage to indicate this is a public park.

The land was donated to the city by Eggebeen Builders in 1979 and is named after the Creekside Subdivision. The subdivision was developed on 89-acres of land that was annexed from the Town of Wilson to the City of Sheboygan in August 1979.

Jeff Rammer's Playground

Before the Shaw Family Playground opened in 2018, the Jeff Rammer Memorial Playground opened in 2002. It was Sheboygan's first playground for disabled children. It is located at 900 Broughton Drive, across the street from Deland Park. This city-owned playground is considered to be part of Deland Park but there is no mention of it on the city website.

The 1,500-square-foot playground was donated by Fritz and Nancy Rammer.

South Shore Park

Located along Lakeshore Drive between High Avenue and Ashland Avenue, this 4-acre special use park has seven wooden benches offering views of Lake Michigan. No signage has been installed promoting South Shore Park. Just one lone sign informing visitors that pets are prohibited next to a trash can. Superintendent of Parks & Forestry Joe Kerlin is not supportive of erecting signage to mark the park.

The City of Sheboygan has had plans since 2016 to construct a path to connect to the existing sidewalks to the north and south of the park. This greenspace is a popular spot to view the Independence Day fireworks show and the powerboat races.

Grace Park

Located at 2347 East Mark Drive on Sheboygan’s northwest side, this 1.13-acre park owned by the City of Sheboygan can also be accessed via North 31st Street as well as North Kay Drive. It has playground equipment, a sandbox, a wooden bench, one picnic table, kiddie swings, a single street light and one trash can.

While there is no signage to mark it as a public park, the land was donated to the city in 1969. The park is named after the Graceland Subdivision.

Greenwing Ponds

Officially called the Greenwing Ponds Stormwater Management Facility, this greenspace offers a walking path around two separate ponds, one higher than the other. It has two wooden bridges to allow access over spillways. There is a public sidewalk along Washington Avenue and Greenwing Drive to access the 7-acre park.

In 1995, the City of Sheboygan purchased land from the Zimbal Family for $671,000 and the city spent another $871,000 to construct the ponds. The project was part of Tax Incremental District #8 which helped spur development in the area.

Camelot Park

Located at Camelot Boulevard and South 12th Place, this public park extends west to Kings Court. This 3.85-acre property was the site of 16 homes that were purchased by the City of Sheboygan after massive flooding in August 1998. There is no signage to indicate this is a public park beyond two “On-Leash Area” signs next to trash cans.

The greenspace, which is located in a floodplain, is pet friendly and has a number of trees and evergreen bushes. A masterplan for the park has been suggested along with developing a walking path, placing picnic tables and even installing playground equipment. It is not clear what future plans the city currently has for the park.

In 1999, the City of Sheboygan spent nearly $1.9 million to purchase 16 homes along the south side of Camelot Blvd. All 16 homes were demolished in August 2000.

Developer Bob Winter created the 60-acre Camelot Estates Subdivision in 1967. Bill Mathias and Ken Wagner of Mathias-Wagner Real Estate Company purchased the subdivision and took over the development in 1972. They had proposed constructing duplexes and apartment buildings. That plan was rejected by the Common Council and ultimately single-family homes were built. There were persistent flooding and drainage issues, which first came to light in 1977 and continued until August 1998 when 16 homes were severely damaged by floodwaters.

Northeast Park

Located at North 6th Street and Evergreen Parkway, there is no signage to indicate this is a public park. The 12-acre Northeast Park is mostly greenspace with soccer goal posts, two picnic tables with trash cans, and a lone bench. A dirt path between trees leads to the gravel-lined Lake Michigan shoreline.

The land was purchased by the city in 1922. In 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) project built a storm sewer and filled an old creek bed. Trees were planted and the land was used as a dump by the city. Neighbors had complained of cockroaches in 1943 and fires drew repeated responses from firefighters. In 1948, Mayor Willard M. Soonenburg proposed developing the space into a "beautiful park and playground." It was his hope to transform the land with a bathing house, open stadium for band concerts.

However, no one could agree on whether to use the park for picnic space or for boat access. There was a temporary gravel road in 1973 to allow workers to place boulders along the lakeshore. In April 1977, Alderman Robert Richter proposed changing the name to Eggebeen Park. Mark F. Eggebeen, who had served 26 years as alderman before retiring that year, died at the age of 75 in March 1991.

Charles Voight Park

Charles Voigt Park is located at North 8th Street and Eisner Avenue in Sheboygan. Photo by Asher Heimermann.

This 2.9-acre public park is located at the southwest corner of North 8th Street and Eisner Avenue on the city’s far northwest side. The park is marked by a sign on North 8th Street at the swing onto Eisner Avenue. It has playground equipment, kiddie swings, ample greenspace, one picnic table and one trash can. On-street parking is available on North 9th Street from Pershing Avenue. Pets are prohibited.

The park is named after Charles Voigt, a prominent businessman and attorney. He served as the Sheboygan County District Attorney for 12 years. He died in October 1958 at the age of 82. His wife Elizabeth died at the age of 85 in April 1969. Her estate donated her land, which was located within the Town of Sheboygan limits, to the city which than annexed the land and dedicated the parkland in December 1969.

In 1968, construction started on the south building of Lakeview Village to the west of the park. The north building was constructed one year later. Originally called Lake Terrace Garden Apartments, there were 104-units between the two V-shaped buildings. The name of the complex changed to Lakeview Village just months after natural gas service was shut off to the complex after the owner failed to pay the bill.

When the complex was built, the apartments were advertised as “luxury.”

Arrowhead Park

In 1979, the City of Sheboygan annexed 28-acres of land along the west and north side of Georgia Avenue from the Town of Sheboygan. The land was developed by Werner Homes into the Rammer Estates Subdivision. Part of that development was Arrowhead Park, which is an old Indian burial mound site.

Located at 2833 Ashby Court, the 1-acre parcel is densely wooded and it has no park facilities. There is no signage marking it as a public park or its historical significance. There is also access via Rammer Circle though there is no path or signage to indicate that the land is a public park. It is considered a conservancy area by the city.

Manor Heights Conservancy

Manor Heights Park is located west of Lakeshore Road at the Pigeon River in Sheboygan. Photo by Asher Heimermann.

Situated along the north bank of the Pigeon River, the Manor Heights Conservancy is an undeveloped 11.6-acre public park owned by the City of Sheboygan. Access to the parkland is from Lakeshore Road. It is part of the Pigeon River Flood Plains and was proposed to be incorporated into one continuous public park.

The parkland was donated to the city in 1949. During that same year, the city’s Master Plan called for constructing a parkway drive, which would have been a continuous road around the city. The parkway would have began at Pigeon River to the north, south along Lake Michigan, west along Black River before curving back north to the Pigeon River. Those plans never materialized but the city still annexed land from the Town of Sheboygan in 1988.

Garton Bur Oak

The 35-acre heavily wooded park is located at the northeast corner of County Road J and Rangeline Road in the Town of Sheboygan. The land is owned by the City of Sheboygan with a conservation easement through Glacial Lakes Conservancy. Garton Bur Oak is overseen by staff at Maywood Park. It is used mainly for outdoor education.

The land was donated to the City of Sheboygan by the Garton Family in 2005.

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