Boardwalk Replacement

The oldest boardwalk in Schmeeckle Reserve was located just south of the visitor center on the Frog Chorus Trail/Trail of Reflections loop, with some parts over 40 years old. The boardwalk was definitely showing its age: frost heaving caused parts of the boardwalk to buckle, and the narrow width created congestion especially during special events. The Friends of Schmeeckle began fundraising in 2024 to replace the old walkway with a wider, more accessible boardwalk design. A total of $25,000 has been raised so far, which is enough to purchase supplies to replace not only the oldest boardwalk section, but also the entire Frog Chorus Trail boardwalk for a total of 650 feet. The boardwalk is currently under construction by the Friends Volunteer Trail Crew. Click here to donate to the project!

Project Background

The Trail of Reflections was constructed in the early 1980s as an outdoor extension of the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame being built in the visitor center. The goal of the trail was to provide a quiet outdoor space for visitors to reflect on the philosophies of Wisconsin’s conservation leaders. The loop was the first trail in Schmeeckle to be accessible to people in wheelchairs.

One of the features of the Trail of Reflections was a 170-foot-long boardwalk that meandered over a wetland just south of the visitor center. The boardwalk was constructed by student employees on treated telephone poles.

U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day, came to Schmeeckle during Earth Week of 1988 to officially open the trail. Gaylord Nelson and Ron Zimmerman, the Director of Schmeeckle, were the first to walk the trail together.

Since the boardwalk is on the shortest route between the visitor center and Lake Joanis (Frog Chorus Trail), it is heavily used by students, families, school groups, and other visitors. Based on infrared trail counters, we estimate that over 50,000 people walk over the boardwalk annually. It is also on the main route for every fall and spring Candlelight Hike Festival.

As an icon of the “Schmeeckle experience” for the past 40 years, the boardwalk definitely began showing its age. The old supports created a bouncy surface for runners and bicyclists. The narrow width didn’t allow for multiple wheelchairs, strollers, or wagons to pass each other. And the annual freeze/thaw cycle caused the surface to buckle, creating additional barriers to access.

The purpose of this project is to replace two sections of boardwalk on the Trail of Reflections/Frog Chorus Trail with a single 650-foot-long, 8-foot-wide, ADA accessible elevated walkway. The increased trail width will provide room for multiple people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers to comfortably pass each other, while reducing congestion for crowded events like the Candlelight Hike Festivals. The wider surface will also provide easier access for maintaining the trails in the future. The even boardwalk surface will benefit all trail users, whether walking, running, or wheeling.

Project Status

The estimated cost to purchase supplies to replace the entire 650-foot-long Frog Chorus Trail boardwalk was just under $26,000. The Friends Volunteer Trail Crew agreed to donate their labor to construct the boardwalk.

Fundraising for the project began in February 2024, with several generous Friends donors providing seed money for the project. In November 2024, the College of Natural Resources chose the boardwalk project to be included in the annual UW-Stevens Point Giving Tuesday campaign. Over 20 donors gave $4,265 during the campaign, which the Friends matched dollar-for-dollar, resulting in a total of $8,530. In December 2024, the Point Bock Run, which promotes running and healthy lifestyles, awarded the Friends a $6,000 grant toward the project.

As of January 1, 2025, the Friends had raised about $25,400 for the boardwalk replacement. The lumber was purchased in March 2025. Project construction started in May 2025, and it will be completed in three phases. The entire project is planned to be finished in fall 2025.

Phase 1: Old Trail of Reflections boardwalk replacement

The first phase involves removing the oldest boardwalk in Schmeeckle (just south of the visitor center) and replacing it with a new 8-foot-wide elevated structure. The total length of the new boardwalk will be about 170 feet.

From May 13-22, 2025, the volunteer crew worked to remove the old boardwalk structure from the wetland. The old lumber was moved to the gravel parking lot and offered for free to the community (encouraging reuse instead of sending to the landfill).

Starting on May 23, 2025, the volunteer crew began constructing the new boardwalk just south of the visitor center. It is anticipated to take several weeks to complete this phase.

Phase 2: Extend boardwalk over granite

A short 80-foot-long section of crushed granite currently separates the old boardwalk to the north and the newer boardwalk to the south on the Frog Chorus Trail. As the wetland has changed over time, this section now often floods in the spring and can create a muddy surface for much of the season. A new 8-foot-wide boardwalk will be constructed here to connect the boardwalks to the north and south.

Phase 3: Frog Chorus Trail boardwalk replacement

A long 400-foot section of boardwalk currently runs over a wet woodland from south of the oldest boardwalk toward the lake. The elevated surface helps to protect the wet habitat and keep feet dry. While the boardwalk is newer (constructed in 2012), it is still narrow, which causes congestion and reduces accessibility. This boardwalk will be removed and replaced with an 8-foot-wide slightly elevated walkway to match the first and second phases. Ultimately, the three sections will be combined into a single, 650-foot-long, accessible boardwalk.

Photo Gallery

Click the albums below to view photos of the boardwalk project in progress!