New Bridge Opening At Lakeside Park!

If you spent any time at Lakeside Park this summer, you probably noticed the construction happening along Promen Drive shortly after Walleye Weekend. The nearly 100 year old bridge that had served the park since the late 1920s was finally retired and replaced with a new, safer structure that better fits how people use the park today. The project focused not just on updating aging infrastructure, but on improving the experience for walkers, runners, and cyclists like myself, who cross that spot every single day.

On Monday at 3 p.m., the city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new bridge, with local leaders, park users, and community members coming out to celebrate. The new Promen Drive Bridge features a wider sidewalk and shared space for pedestrians and bicycles, along with improved access to nearby parking by the pavilion. It’s one of those upgrades that might look simple at first glance, but it makes it easier and more comfortable for families with strollers, kids on bikes, and anyone out enjoying the park to move around without feeling squeezed by traffic.

Personally, I’m really happy to see the bridge open again. Not just because it looks great, but because it makes kayaking so much easier. That bridge connects the river channels right out to Lake Winnebago, and during the closure, that route was blocked off all summer. Being able to paddle straight through again, under that new bridge and out toward the open water, really brings back one of my favorite parts of being on the lake. It’s a small thing, but for those of us who love spending time out there, it means a lot.