Hidden Lake Park: Designing for the public
May 30, 2025 | Topics: Places
By Eddee Daniel
It is called “Hidden Lake” but the lake is no longer hidden. I remember when it truly was hidden. When it was simply a disused quarry. I don’t remember what year it was, but I distinctly recall my first view of the lake, which was a revelation. As I stood on the precipice surveying the almost primordial scene below me two thoughts occurred simultaneously: How is it possible that this much open land is right here, steps from a suburban subdivision, in Brookfield? And … wouldn’t it be excellent if this could be turned into a park?
After several exploratory visits I stopped going because a “No trespassing” sign was erected at the only point of entry from a public street. This was not surprising for several reasons. First, since it was private land it made sense to post it. Second, a well-established trail led invitingly into the property. Third, the precipitous, actively eroding and often muddy cliff was obviously a dangerous liability. And fourth, footprints, firepits, and trash all indicated that the place was in fact being used by someone—not often perhaps but unmistakably.
Since I love to explore and since this was such a satisfying opportunity to do so I was sad to give it up. But I never forgot the dream I had that first day of it becoming a park.
Decades passed.
Then one day in 2020 I was surprised to learn that there was a new park in Brookfield called “Hidden Lake Park.” I knew immediately that it must be the quarry. It’s an uncommon delight to experience so palpable a dream come true, even if it takes 25 years or so. I had to go check out my old hidden lake.
Turns out the lake itself is not part of the park. That is, if you don’t count the unfolding views of it from the paved trail that skirts around it on two sides. The water and the rough edges that bound it remain on (posted) private property. In fact, I discovered that Hidden Lake Park is essentially two adjoined parks. One is the long, sinuous paved trail hugged by a narrow, landscaped strip within an easement on private land. The other is a more traditional park, featuring a playground and a large open field nestled within small wetlands, with a parking lot off Lilly Road.
It wasn’t until this year, five years later, that I was surprised again when Tom Mortensen, a landscape architect with raSmith, the site design firm that designed the park and trail, sent me a blurb about Hidden Lake Park. Tom, who has contributed to The Natural Realm before, wondered if I would like to do a story about Hidden Lake and its fascinating history—not knowing that I had my own fascinating history with the property!
Fortunately, I wasn’t the only person who dreamed of a park on this property. The other was in a position to actually make it happen: Bill Kolstad, then Director of parks, recreation and forestry and a member of the City of Brookfield Parks and Recreation Commission. Kolstad was the visionary driver of the city’s extensive Greenway Trail System. The Hidden Lake Trail would become an addition to the system.
Creating a new trail in an existing park is a design challenge. Creating one on undeveloped private land adds a whole political layer to the challenge. Not only did the property owner have to be convinced of its value, but so did the neighbors, who expressed concern about allowing the public access to the land. According to Tom, a robust public input process was required to get it approved. The design solution feels like a win-win for all involved.
Although residential properties surround the park, they are all but invisible from the trail in the summer when the foliage is full. Likewise in reverse. Sight lines controlled by berms as well as plantings help maintain privacy for the neighbors. Furthermore, continual use of the park and trail helps prevent the kind of illegitimate activities that I myself had witnessed years ago—and which the “no trespassing” sign had done little to abate (my own experience notwithstanding). In the end the project had the full support of the public and the park board.
Even though there is no public access to the lake shore, it took a lot of bulldozing and landscaping to establish views and create visual connections with the water. Not to mention making it far less dangerous!
The traditional section of the park posed different design problems. Great efforts were made to retain and protect as many of the desirable hardwood trees as possible to give the new park a well-established feel. When the quarry was in operation (until the mid-1980’s) the park site was used for pumping the water out of the quarry, which has no natural outlet. Some ditches became artificially created wetlands. That water eventually feeds into the Underwood Creek watershed.
The snapping turtle I found wandering across the lawn from wetland to wetland seems to like it all just fine—except perhaps the curious dog that its owner had to keep from getting too close! I’ve also spotted deer, hawks, many other birds, and a Butler’s garter snake. Make it a win for the wildlife, too!
Gallery
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10 Ways to Design Healthy Communities
Route of the Badger: Cycling (and multi-use) Trails in SE Wisconsin
Notes: Thanks go to Tom Mortensen and raSmith for providing many of the details for this story. All of the photos are by Eddee Daniel, taken in 2025, except as noted.
Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks.