Kinsey Park pier project completed!

When I returned to the park the next day (July 18), I was pleasantly surprised to find the pier finished!

Either the workmen stayed late Thursday, or came very early Friday.

The pier is finished. I think it is more of a deck, however, than a pier.

I think of a pier as something near the water--like at a lake cottage. This "pier" probably had to pass all sorts of safety codes and ADA standards, thus, we got a deck.

Time will tell it the children find it useful for fishing. I suspect they will still be down at the water's edge netting their frogs and fish because the height and railing on the pier won't allow them to do so from up there.

Today, there is yet anther park spruce-up project under way. This one courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 55. The Scouts will be painting the interior of the shelter*.

The perennial flower plantings by Kinsey's sign were a result of an area Eagle Scout project.

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

*Did you know that the shelter used to be the warming house? Yup, back in the days when they allowed ice skating on the pond, they used the shelter as a warming house. The openings were closed up and they even had natural gas heat.

PS Anyone lose a single key while walking on Kinsey Park Drive? email me if you did. Practicallyspeaking@gmail.com

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin, Vicki Mckenna

Pier project begins at Kinsey Park pond

Yesterday I noticed these workmen at Kinsey Park. At long last the pier is going in! Yippee!

Area residents first heard about the pier back in 2006 as part of a park spruce up.

The Parks & Rec. Department has put in a paved walk to the playground, benches (wish they weren't quite so high!), installed a new play structure, and put in some new plantings. The pier was the last of the improvements.

Although the pier is small, kids should still enjoy the pier for fishing. It is higher out of the ground than I expected however, making it difficult to launch a remote control boat or use a dip net. I suspect the height had to do with the "bounce" factor from occasional heavy rains. (Pond water level rises over a foot sometimes.)

Now, if they could just do something about those unsightly weeds around the pond...

Kinsey Park is located about 4 blocks north of Greenfield Ave. on Elm Grove Road and Kinsey Park Drive. The park was set aside as a bird sanctuary in the original deeding of the subdivision before Brookfield was incorporated. (I believe this was in the 1940s.)

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Mark Levin, Vicki Mckenna

Beautiful day? Try lunch up on the roof garden

Recently, my high school girlfriends and I lunched at an interesting restaurant in Shorewood, the ANABA TEA ROOM.

It was a beautiful day and we opted to have lunch up on their roof garden.

The setting was delightful and the food good. This weekend promises to be glorious. If you are on the east side, give the tea room a try.

ANABA TEA ROOM is located at 2107 E. Capitol Drive in Shorewood (east of Oakland Ave, in the vicinity of St. Roberts Church and Atwater School.)

They serve salads, sandwiches, traditional tea sandwiches, sweet treats, and of course...tea! Their complete menu and prices are online.

With all the bad news about the economy, dining up on the roof just might lift your spirits!

You may also dine in the regular restaurant on the lower level.

There was an interesting garden/home shop on the main floor. Be sure to check that out as well.

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Play pinball and arcade games at Midwest Gaming Classic

(This post was originally posted on Brookfieldnow, March 2008)

Like to play pinball and arcade games? How about vintage computer games? Well, the Midwest Gaming Classic it just the place for you.

The Midwest Gaming Classic is once again at the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc this Saturday, March 29th, from 10am to 8pm, and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. Cost: Teens & Adults: $10/day Children, 12 and under accompanied by adult, FREE!

Pay your admission and play all day for free. Private collectors and those in the biz bring their own machines for you to play; some games are for sale. There are also special events, tournaments, and speakers plus you can shop the vendors.

Plus, this year you have a chance to win a Nintendo Wii or family pack of Six Flags tickets.

My guys go every year and have a great time. One year my son won a vintage AJAX arcade game.

Another time, Billy Mitchell (pictured above) played the Donkey Kong game my son brought.

(Too bad we did not have a Sharpie handy for Billy to autograph that game!)

Have Fun!

.

Links: Brookfield7, Betterbrookfield, Vicki Mckenna