Town of Sheboygan Waterworks Park renamed
Despite its name, there is no water at the 2.19-acre property
TOWN OF SHEBOYGAN — Since 1999, a piece of land near Lakeshore Road and Playbird Road has been known as Waterworks Park.
That is about to change as the Town Board voted earlier this month to rename the 2.19-acre site the Town of Sheboygan Wayside. Last month, WKTS News published a story highlighting the four parks located within the Town of Sheboygan which spurred renewed interest in Waterworks Park. “Everybody has been asking why it’s called Waterworks Park and is it the right name,” said Supervisor Tim Winkel, who serves as Chair of the Parks Committee. “It’s not a park and it doesn’t really meet the requirements of the park.” His wife and neighbors think it is ridiculous that there is no water there and it is called Waterworks Park.
“That’s all it is, it’s just a wayside,” said Town Chairman Dan Hein. “That’s a great name for it.” The current sign will be replaced with a new one in 2026. The Parks Committee had discussed the possible names and considered a naming contest. “I think the Wayside is the best thing rather then trying to figure out a name and then the complications that could follow,” added Winkel.
Dedicated in 1999, the Waterworks Trailhead Park is located on Lakeshore Road just south of Playbird Road. There is ample greenspace along with two benches and a bicycle corral. The land was originally acquired by the town’s Sanitary District No. 3 with plans to build a well there. Due to municipal boundaries, the town ended up constructing the well further south of Waterworks Park in 2010.
READ MORE: A closer look at the Town of Sheboygan Parks
In 1998, the Town Board approved construction of the wayside park in conjunction with Sheboygan County's bicycle route along Lakeshore Road. Gerald Sampson, the Town Chairman at the time, preferred the site be called Waterworks Park. When the park opened, the site contained a gravel drive and picnic tables. At the time, town supervisors had authorized funds to build restrooms there but were never built. There had been a porta-potty during the summer months but it was removed due to vandalism according to Hein.
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