Racine County's Quarry Lake Park reopens for fishing after projects

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Quarry Lake Park (Courtesy: Racine County)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. - Racine County reopened Quarry Lake Park on Wednesday – for fishing access only – after the completion of projects aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility and environmental sustainability. 

Quarry Lake Park

The backstory:

Racine County temporarily closed the park earlier this summer out of an abundance of caution. Water levels were lowered beyond their normal range to allow for the construction projects.

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It exposed a steep underwater drop-off near the beach. Although signs were posted, the county said the drop-off hazard was difficult to detect. It prompted the county to close the park to protect the public's safety.

Local perspective:

The landscape improvements were designed with community input and environmental stewardship in mind, according to the county. Those improvements include:

• Replacement of deteriorating retaining walls with a more naturally sloped, turfed waterfront
• A new ADA-compliant path and steps, improving access for visitors of all ages and abilities
• Green infrastructure that filters stormwater runoff and helps reduce shoreline erosion
• Use of durable, low-maintenance materials to improve long-term park operations
• A new ramp for emergency and maintenance vehicles, allowing faster, direct access to the beach area

What's next:

The county will continue to monitor water levels. Swimming and beach access will remain closed until 2026, when water levels are expected to return to safe seasonal conditions.

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