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Milwaukee County Official cut a ribbon to officially open the new segment of the Oak Leaf Trail in Bender Park

New Oak Leaf Trail segment officially opens in Bender Park

September 19, 2026  |  Topics: Events, Places

By Eddee Daniel

If you haven’t been to Bender Park in Oak Creek you might be surprised to learn that it has some of the most spectacular views of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee County. With over a mile of shoreline and acres and acres of open space the experience is unparalleled—and when the wildflowers are in bloom on the bluff top, as they are right now, it can be downright breathtaking. And those views just got a lot more accessible!

On Thursday, September 17, Milwaukee County officials gathered for a ribbon cutting and an inaugural excursion to celebrate the official opening of a new segment of the Oak Leaf Trail running through Bender Park. 1.3 miles of new, 10-foot wide paved trail extends the South Shore Line of the trail the length of the park.

Milwaukee County Parks Trails Coordinator Jacob Sanchez leads a contingent of cyclists on an inaugural ride on the newly opened trail.
Milwaukee County Parks Trails Coordinator Jacob Sanchez leads a contingent of cyclists on an inaugural ride on the newly opened trail.

“This is a beautiful addition to Bender Park,” said Milwaukee County Parks Executive Director Guy Smith in his opening remarks, “but what makes this project especially significant is where this trail takes us and what it connects to.”

The extension closes a key gap in the regional trail network (see Route of the Badger), creating a continuous 20-mile bike trail along Milwaukee County’s southern shoreline and on into Racine County. Also, with the completion of this segment Milwaukee County is 1.3 miles closer to a goal set in 2024 of adding 10 miles of new trails by the end of this year. (Another new segment is currently nearing completion in Kohl Park in Milwaukee County’s far northwest corner.)

A contingent of walkers follows along behind the cyclists.
A contingent of walkers follows along behind the cyclists.

Unfortunately for those who attended the opening ceremony, the vaunted spectacular views in Bender were temporarily curtailed by dense fog! That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm, however. A contingent of cyclists sped off down the fresh asphalt while another contingent followed along on foot. New vegetation is already sprouting alongside the pavement, softening the impact that the construction has had on the landscape. By this time next year when you walk or ride on the new trail, it likely will be through a sea of restored prairie wildflowers as spectacular as ever.

“This milestone represents more than the completion of a new trail. It’s an investment in the health, well-being and connectivity of our communities,” saidSmith. “By connecting Milwaukee and Racine counties and expanding access to our natural areas, we’re creating more opportunities for people to be active, connect with nature and experience the physical and mental health benefits our parks provide.”

Although views of Lake Michigan were obscured during the inaugural excursion, the wildflowers still blazed in undiminished glory!
Although views of Lake Michigan were obscured during the inaugural excursion, the wildflowers still blazed in undiminished glory!

Projects like this one don’t just fall from the sky, of course. The planning and design of the new trail took years and construction has been going on for most of 2026. I began visiting Bender last March and have returned periodically since then in order to document the progress of construction. The photo essay that follows is presented roughly in chronological order.

A visual chronology of construction of the new trail

An aerial view of the north end of the new trail shows construction already well underway in March 2026.
An aerial view of the north end of the new trail shows construction already well underway in March 2026.
Some of the earth-moving equipment needed to build the new trail.
Some of the earth-moving equipment needed to build the new trail.
This aerial view shows the northern half of the park and the cleared and fenced construction corridor.
This aerial view shows the northern half of the park and the cleared and fenced construction corridor.
A ground-level view of part of the trail near the south end of the park showing the cleared construction corridor prior to cutting in the new trail.
A ground-level view of part of the trail near the south end of the park showing the cleared construction corridor prior to cutting in the new trail.
The foliage is just beginning to bud into green in April as work continues, here at the north end of the park.
The foliage is just beginning to bud into green in April as work continues, here at the north end of the park.
The finished trail is a layered construction. First a shallow trench is dug. Then a reinforcement mesh layer is laid on top, followed by gravel, which is being pushed into place by a bulldozer. The asphalt is added on top of all this.
The finished trail is a layered construction. First a shallow trench is dug. Then a reinforcement mesh layer is laid on top, followed by gravel, which is being pushed into place by a bulldozer. The asphalt is added on top of all this.
Aerial view of the southern two-thirds of the park in April, looking south.
Aerial view of the southern two-thirds of the park in April, looking south.
By early July some portions of the new trail were paved. If you look close you can spot a lone cyclist trying it out.
By early July some portions of the new trail were paved. If you look close you can spot a lone cyclist trying it out.
But there were still portions of the trail without asphalt, like this S-curve next to the park road.
But there were still portions of the trail without asphalt, like this S-curve next to the park road.
Dog walkers trying out the freshly paved trail in July.
Dog walkers trying out the freshly paved trail in July.
This aerial view from the south shows nearly the entire route of the new trail in Bender Park.
This aerial view from the south shows nearly the entire route of the new trail in Bender Park.
I caught this whitetail deer peeking over the construction fencing along the trail.
I caught this whitetail deer peeking over the construction fencing along the trail.
The trail construction project included reclaiming a large dirt parking area (lower right) and restoring it with native vegetation.
The trail construction project included reclaiming a large dirt parking area (lower right) and restoring it with native vegetation.
By early August the entire trail had been paved.
By early August the entire trail had been paved.
The disturbed edges along the trail were being reseeded with native prairie vegetation and protected with biodegradable burlap.
The disturbed edges along the trail were being reseeded with native prairie vegetation and protected with biodegradable burlap.
Plenty of people already were out using the new trail, even as work crews continued with finishing touches.
Plenty of people already were out using the new trail, even as work crews continued with finishing touches.
Some wildlife was even checking out the freshly laid asphalt. This is an American toad.
Some wildlife was even checking out the freshly laid asphalt. This is an American toad.
A trio of photographers walk the trail amid the August wildflowers.
A trio of photographers walk the trail amid the August wildflowers.
The new trail winding through the wooded southern section of the park.
The new trail winding through the wooded southern section of the park.
And that takes us back to September. Here we see the inaugural group cycling in the fog. Notice how much the newly seeded vegetation beside the trail has grown already.
And that takes us back to September. Here we see the inaugural group cycling in the fog. Notice how much the newly seeded vegetation beside the trail has grown already.

For more information about Bender Park go to our Find-a-Park page.

Related stories:

Route of the Badger: Cycling (and multi-use) Trails in SE Wisconsin

String of Pearls: Milwaukee County’s south shore parks

Historic routes provide the basis for today’s Oak Leaf Trail

Eddee Daniel, writer/photographer, is a board member of Preserve Our Parks, the Program Director of A Wealth of Nature, editor of The Natural Realm blog (and a former art educator and resident of Wauwatosa). Read more or subscribe at awealthofnature.org. Also available by arrangement for group presentations and guided tours.

The Natural Realm blog is part of A Wealth of Nature, which is a program of Preserve Our Parks. The Milwaukee County Parks Department is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.

About Preserve Our Parks

Preserve Our Parks, Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of parks and green spaces.  Our mission: To advocate for and promote Milwaukee area parks and open spaces and to strive to protect the tenets of Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine. 

For more than 25 years, we have been a leader in advocating for the protection of Milwaukee County park lands, halting many proposals to develop, privatize, or sell local parkland and lakefront spaces.  More information about POP, including past accomplishments, is available at www.preserveourparks.org.

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