Book Hike - Tosa Green Summit - Tree Planting -
Sign Celebration - Buckthorn Removal - Tosa Eco Fest -
Monthly Meeting Topic

Sanctuary Woods Book Hike for One More Week!

There is a new book hike in County Grounds Park. Follow the path through the woods as you read “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” by Mo Willems.

Bring some youth and see if the pigeon can persuade you to let him drive the bus! You can access the looping trail from the road marked on the map below. From 87th and Watertown Plank Road go north, then west 0.5 miles on 87th Street and park at the blue square "P." Hike a block, back east to a gravel road that goes south. The trail quickly veers left (east) again into the woods.

This book hike has been sponsored, assembled, and installed by the Wauwatosa Youth Commission, in coordination Friends of County Grounds Park and Milwaukee County Parks.

The book hike will be up for just 1 more week.

More photos and commentary at this link

2024 Tosa Green Summit 

 Saturday, September 14th @ 8am to 1pm

Several Friends of County Grounds Park will be staffing a table at the 2024 Tosa Green Summit. Come meet us in person and find out more about the park and how we live out our mission:

To protect and improve the natural areas and wildlife habitat of the County Grounds and to continue the tradition of using this land to promote community health and wellness. 

Also meet lots of other like-minded organizations in and around Wauwatosa - along with a presentation by Eddee Daniel who kindly supports our group through his photography, tours, donations, and volunteerism.

More info at: https://www.facebook.com/TosaGreenSummit/

Habitat Restoration - Tree Planting October 5th

Join other volunteers October 5th at 9am for planting 40 trees and shrubs in Sanctuary Woods. There are tasks for any skill level, no experience needed, equipment, training and supervision will be provided. Appropriate for all ages. Registration requested for coordination purposes.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1010152963707

In 2024, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center and Milwaukee County Parks are co-funding the installation of over 40 new trees and shrubs in County Grounds Park extending Sanctuary Woods. A portion of the project is the result of a 2024 budget addition by Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Shawn Rolland for additional tree planting across several Milwaukee County Parks. The Milwaukee Regional Medical Center donation is part of their work with the Tree Campus Healthcare Program by the Arbor Day Foundation.

The funding also included tree protection fencing for 125 trees and shrubs planted over 3 years which maximize survival rate against deer browsing along with heavy snow and wind conditions. This is the third year in a row that generous support from the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center has contributed to new tree planting in County Grounds Park.

Beyond tree procurement - the effort of tree planting, fencing, and watering is a coordinated effort between many organizations including the Friends of County Grounds Park, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Hoppe Tree Service, and Milwaukee County Parks-Natural Areas Program. Since 2022 over 240 trees and shrubs have been planted, extending Sanctuary Woods several acres.

Nearly half the trees and shrubs planted in 2024 were selected because they are preferred by Cedar Waxwing birds - one of over 150 bird species who frequent County Grounds Park. List of trees planted in the comments for this post.  

Sign Celebration!

In August we held a celebration of the new sign at County Grounds Park. Thanks to everyone who joined the fun event! 

Thanks again to Hoppe Tree Service, Milwaukee County Parks, and individual donors who helped make this sign possible.

Consider coming to see the sign yourself - and it is two sides, front and back!! More event photos an commentary at

this link.

Habitat Restoration - Buckthorn Slaying

Six Buckthorn Removal Events This Fall!

Registration requested for coordination purposes, linked below, consider coming to multiple events!

• Saturday Sep 21; 9-12

• Saturday Oct 12; 9-12

• Friday Oct 18; 2-4

• Saturday Oct 26; 9-12

• Friday Nov 1; 2-4

• Saturday Nov 16; 9-12

   

  County Grounds Park and Sanctuary Woods is home to a very old forest - with some trees over 300 years old. These majestic trees include oaks, maples, walnuts, basswood, willows, boxelders, and cottonwood. But this forest is in danger of dying out because the invasive buckthorn is preventing regenerative growth. We have a multi-year initiative to remove the buckthorn, which is only possible with great volunteers - like YOU!

This is a great opportunity to live your conviction of making a local difference, contributing to environmental improvements, and volunteering in your community. Join other volunteers for a few hours of buckthorn removal this fall. There are tasks for any skill level including pulling buckthorn sprouts, hand-sawing, dragging, or stacking (or switching off). No experience needed, equipment training and supervision will be provided. Appropriate for all ages.

Thanks to Caitlin R and Danielle P
for coordinating and leading these events!

Tosa Fall Eco Fest

Saturday, October 5th: Noon -3pm

Location: Root Common Park in the center of Tosa

Co-Founded by the two Environmental Club presidents at Wauwatosa East High School, the Tosa Fall Eco Fest is an annual event geared toward promoting sustainability and environmentalism in a way that caters to all audiences.

Several Friends of County Grounds Park will be staffing a table at the 2024 Tosa Fall Eco Fest. Come meet us in person and find out more about the park and how we live out our mission.

Bringing sustainability and environmentalism to Tosa ♻️

More info at this page: https://www.tosaecofest.com

Friends of County Grounds Park Monthly Meeting- Thursday, September 12th at 6:30

Possible Change in Park Mowing 

Consider joining our friends group Zoom meeting this Thursday. Our Regional Engagement Coordinator from the County Parks Department will help lead a discussion on potentially allowing an existing mowed area to return to prairie. This would be just north of the existing gravel parking lot, and potentially leave a mowed path connecting to the Asylum Cemetery.

For those interested in joining our monthly meetings and contributing time, talents, or treasure to co-managing the park - please email friendsofcountygroundspark@gmail.com

Reporting Suspicious Activity

• The Milwaukee County Grounds is patrolled and enforced by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department

• Please be part of the solution and directly report any suspicious activity: 

  • Sheriff:  414-278-4788

  • Fire or medical emergency:  911

• Thanks for helping take clear ownership for our shared space

To ensure you continue receiving these updates, please add tosahistory13@pb03.wixemails.com to your safe sender list or address book

Sincere appreciation for a community that has been such good stewards for this precious space. We have a lot to be proud of, the ability to make a difference, and hope for the future. Thank you!!