Some time ago, Atwater Beach was a main attraction to many Shorewood families. With a concession stand, pavilion, picnic tables, umbrellas, and newly constructed piers, Atwater Beach was a popular spot in Shorewood. When the beach’s Pavilion was demolished in 1987, there wasn’t much attracting Shorewood citizens to the beach. With no lifeguards, dangerous piers and a diminishing playground, few families were spending much time at the beach during summers. Currently, a group of Shorewood residents are attempting to bring the community feeling back to Atwater beach.

    Friends of Atwater Beach is “just a group of citizens trying to make the beach a better place,” said Sam Essak, a group member. “We felt like it was a neglected resource.” The 153 Shorewood residents who make up the Friends of Atwater Beach (FAB) have many goals to achieve. As soon as late summer and fall of 2008 they plan to begin construction of a playground with a nautical theme. Plans also include educating those who go the beach with plaques on the sunken ship off the coast of Atwater beach, the Appomattox. These are the first steps and the FAB has confidence in a successful completion of their project on time.

    A grant through the Shorewood Foundation enabled the FAB to hire the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Community Design Studio Group to plan the concepts for their plan. The group researched the history of the beach and are hoping to bring back some of the concepts from the past. One of these concepts would be a covered area or pavilion, which will possibly include a concession stand, changing rooms, and seating areas.

One thing that has kept people away from these past few summers is the algae. The stench alone is enough to send people away from the beach. Wading through the raft of alage in the water is also a turn-off. Minimizing algae on the jetties and the beach is a key goal of FAB. They’re planning on doing some ecological studies to measure levels of algae and assess what they can do to fix the problem. This issue will be brought up in a Village of Shorewood budget meeting. The FAB hopes that the Department of Public Works can help by improving and increasing the amount of algae clean up at the beach.

Another use for the budget money would be to hire lifeguards. FAB wants lifeguards at the beach to ensure a safe environment for everyone. By the summer of 2008, we can expect lifeguards on duty and systematic cleaning of the algae on the beachfront.

    In the past, Atwater Beach was a gathering location for the village’s residents. FAB plans to bring this feeling back. As soon as the summer of 2008, the beach will be regularly cleaned of algae and trash. There will also be lifeguards on duty. By the summer of 2009, there will be a new playground, updated restrooms, and a shuttle service down to the beach. In summer 2010, FAB plans to have walkways and a new beach pavilion constructed. FAB wants to re-create the sense of community in Atwater Beach so people can gather and have a good time.