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Henry Schuette Park
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Features
- Cross Country Skiing
- Dogs Allowed
- Fishing
- Grilling (Frying)
- Kayak Launch
- Open Air Shelters
- Picnicking
- Playground Areas
- Restrooms
- Walking / Hiking
General Information
Henry Schuette Park is comprised of 65.17 acres and is located by the scenic Manitowoc River, with its rolling terrain, wildlife, aquatic type plants, bushes, and forest area. This community park provides off-street parking, a community built playground, open air shelters, grills,a kayak launch, exercise equipment, fishing areas, and over six miles of nature and fitness trails in a beautiful scenic vista along the Manitowoc River. Cross country skiing is allowed on the trails in winter; however, the trails are not groomed.
Lower Henry Schuette Park - Canoe & Kayak Launch
In order to increase awareness, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Manitowoc River, a handicap accessible canoe & kayak launch was installed at lower Henry Schuette Park. The Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed (FMRW) partnered with the City to seek funding for the launch from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Click here for a link to the FMRW Facebook page for information about FMRW projects or to learn how to become a member.
A tip for using the launch: Put the front of the kayak in the U-shaped area towards the walk-over. It feels opposite of what it should be, but it will prevent the kayak from drifting out towards the river. Once the kayak is in the U-shaped area, front first, lean your body over the ADA handicap bar, so you are in the center leaning over the kayak. Using your arm strength as resistance, step one foot in your kayak. When it feels stable, place the other foot in the kayak and sit down immediately. Once sitting in the kayak, back yourself out by pushing yourself backwards.
Kayak rentals are available at The Manitowoc Marina. All rentals are issued from the marina and may be taken on the Manitowoc River or up to one nautical mile offshore (weather permitting).
Lower Henry Schuette Park - Fitness Zone
In May of 2018, the Fitness Zone opened at Lower Henry Schuette Park. This area features several pieces of exercise equipment near the open air shelter in the lower portion of the park. The equipment was donated by the Kaysun Corporation to promote physical fitness and is available for community members of all ages and abilities to use at no cost. "Wellness is a big part of our corporate culture at Kaysun, and it's one of my personal passions. I'm proud that Kaysun is able to give back to our community and help other community members improve their health and wellbeing through the new Fitness Zone," said CEO Ben Harrison.
Fitness Zone Rules Lower Henry Schuette Park - Ice Age Trail
In 2017, the City of Manitowoc was designated an Ice Age Trail Community by the Ice Age Trail Alliance, whose mission is "to create, support and protect a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin - the Ice Age National Scenic Trail." A portion of the trail goes through Henry Schuette Park. A map showing the City of Manitowoc's portion of the trail is available here. For more information about the Ice Age Trail Alliance, see www.iceagetrail.org.
Rules for park trail #2
Lower Henry Schuette Park - Restoration Plan
In January 2020, a restoration plan was adopted to restore 18 acres within the lower portion of the park. The City of Manitowoc is partnering with Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed, and Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. to perform ecological restoration within portions of lower Henry Schuette Park. This restoration is taking place near the lower parking lot off of Broadway Street and the trailhead. The primary focus is removing invasive plant species and establishing and maintaining appropriate native plant communities. Restoration will occur over the course of several years and will include herbicide treatments to control invasive plant species, and planting of native herbaceous and woody species. Due to the extensive area of invasive plants, portions of the park will look brown for most of the 2020 growing season. Native seed and plants will be installed in 2021 with the intent of establishing greater species diversity. This project is being paid for by two grants received by the LNRP from the U.S. Forestry Service and the Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund.
LNRP received additional funding from the U.S. Forestry Service in fall of 2020 and hopes to expand restoration efforts north into Phase Two. A revised restoration plan will detail the expanded effort. LNRP is also working with Glacierland RC&D to secure additional grant funding to expand restoration and enhancement work. Upper Henry Schuette Park - Community Built Playground
Located in upper Henry Schuette Park, the playground was built by over 2,000 members of the community over a six day period in 2003. Susan Senglaub & Jane Winans initially proposed the project to the City in 2001, and the Friends of the Park group raised about $350,000 to build it, with the West Foundation and Holy Family Memorial Medical Center being the major sponsors.
The playground covers the size of a football field and has a "floor" of rubber chips. Children of all ages can enjoy the many different playground structures, such as the wave and twisty slides, a castle, parallel bars, zigzag ladder, rubber bridge, sand box area, tot swings, playhouse, tunnel, bridge and therapeutic swing. In 2016, the City of Manitowoc's first expression swing was installed at the park.
A donation tube is located at the entrance to the park for those wishing to contribute to improvements at the park. You can also help support the Community Built Playground by purchasing a 4' plastic fence picket. The play area itself is enclosed by a picket fence.
Picket order form
Facility Reservations
Reservations for rental facilities, such as the open air shelters, may be booked online, by telephone with a credit card, or in person no earlier than one year (365 days) in advance of the date to be rented. A signed rental agreement and payment of all fees and deposits is required at the time of booking.
To view a flyer or slideshow for a facility, click on the Facility Rental Flyers & Slideshows tab.
To make a reservation, click on the Facility Reservations Online tab, call the Parks Office at (920) 686-3580 (Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:00pm), or visit the office located in City Hall's Parks Office on 900 Quay St.
History
In early 1979, 16.29 acres of land were donated to the City of Manitowoc by Henry R. & Helen Schuette for park and street purposes. Additional land was donated by the Medusa Corporation in 1980.