MEQUON, Wis. — The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust is working to help the public build a deeper connection to nature.

The latest project is to connect the Spirit Lake Preserve, Pukaite Woods and Rotary Park in Mequon by trail.


What You Need To Know

  • OWLT is aiming to connect the Spirit Lake Preserve, Pukaite Woods and Rotary Park in Mequon by trail this fall

  • Former Mequon Mayor Connie Pukaite had the vision for the project

  • The Mequon Thiensville Community Foundation also awarded $10,000 to create a gravel parking lot and an improved welcome area at Spirit Lake

  • It's also still fundraising for the project. If you want to help, you're encouraged to go to https://www.owlt.org/donate to donate

“The goal has been to connect two really special properties that have always connected physically and through the woodlands we are in right now, but up until recently, people haven’t had access to walk between those two properties,” said Tom Stolp, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust executive director.

Stolp said former Mequon Mayor Connie Pukaite had the vision for the project. From there, the Mequon-Thiensville Community Foundation helped with fundraising. 

The foundation also awarded $10,000 to create a gravel parking lot, and an improved welcome area at Spirit Lake. Both are additions that Stolp said make it easier for people to stop and enjoy the scenery.

(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)

“The idea of connecting the city property to the private, but open to the public, property of the Land Trust really was a celebration of Connie’s ideals and bringing public and private partnership together. Building connections between those entities, but also making connections within the community,” said Stolp.

The work for this project is being done by volunteers, who will continue to smooth out a trail and build boardwalks between Spirit Lake and Pukaite Woods.

The natural land shows people what the area looked like before development. It’s full of different plants and animals.

The group is also still fundraising for the project. If you want to help, you’re encouraged to go to https://www.owlt.org/donate to donate.