History

View a printable version of the History of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (PDF).

Dates	Description
1929	City Of Green Bay purchased 250 Acres adjacent to the Bay Beach Amusement Park with the intent of building a golf course.
1935	Concerned citizens led by Chester Cole and Lyle Kingston developed the concept of a wildlife refuge with guidance from Aldo Leopold.
1936 to 1937	City Park Board granted 5 acres to use for waterfowl. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary was incorporated, offering 50¢ memberships to raise funds. The first pond was hand dug and stocked with injured waterfowl. Sanctuary wins national award/trophy for this effort 1937.
1938 to 1941	With heavy equipment donations from Shuster's Construction and the County the National Youth Administration and Work Project Administration 100 men worked 2 years digging more ponds, completing the present lagoon system of 55 acres, landscaped the islands and planted trees and shrubs.
1938	Louis Barkhausen donated 6 Canada geese, which are the ancestors of our present goose flock.
1941	First goslings hatch. City Park Recreation and Forestry Department takes over operation of the Sanctuary and Park Board names it the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
1956	3,000 ducks and geese winter at the refuge. Support funds are raised from corn sales (10¢ per bag) and concessions.
1965	First goose banding operation begins. (To date Sanctuary's banding program over 28 years of data collection rates this project as the longest running of banding program in the state).
1970	City hires the first college trained professional Sanctuary Manager.
1971	Redredging of main Feeding Lagoon - funded by partnership of college student button sales and local industry.
1973	Sanctuary is inundated with 4 feet of flood water from the Bay.
1978	Observation building size is doubled with help of the Marine Corps Reserves to accommodate expanding environmental education program. Friends of the Wildlife Sanctuary, non-profit support group is incorporated.
1980	Sanctuary's Master Plan Phase I is completed (Coastal Zone Grant). Sanctuary's acreage is doubled with 300 acres of purchased and donated land east of Danz Avenue
1981	Sanctuary's Master Plan Phase II is completed for the new acreage (Coastal Zone Grant).
1982	HUD Grant funds "Web of Life" Accessible Trail and Water Fall.
1983	Sanctuary's Communication Plan through a Coastal Zone Management Grant is completed (plan details how to tell Sanctuary Story to the 59 target groups identified).
1985	Nature Education Center opens in September, largest center of its kind built entirely by private funds raised by the Friends = $1.7 million.
1986	Equipping and furnishing of the Nature Center.
1987	Construction of Bald Eagle, Caracara and Redtail Hawk aviary exhibits.
1988	Construction of vulture and coyote habitat exhibits.
1989	Construction of waterfowl habitat exhibit.
1990	Addition of a full-time Ranger Technician. Establishing the Woodland Community Memorial Grove - planting of trees and shrubs to both commemorate individuals and landscape the Woodland Community area with native plant material.
1991	Dedication of the White-tailed Deer Habitat exhibit. Construction of main entrance archway, Wildlife Habi-Trek archway and directional sign pod.
1992	Acquisition of 11 acres of land completing geographical integrity of the Sanctuary boundaries and trail extension to connect with the UWGB Arboretum (Stewardship Grant of $116,000 matched by Friends and City). Dedication of Habitat and Succession exhibit with Peter Gros from Wild Kingdom assisting in the public dedication ceremony. Dedication of Kingdom Corner, and Wildlife Observation Platform exhibits in the nature center with Brian Noble - Green Bay Packer.
1993	Addition of 2nd and 3rd deck levels to Deer Habitat Tower = 33' high. Addition of Deer Habitat Eco-Learning Station platform and trellis.
1994	Construction of Woodland Building, a 6,000 square feet, Friends funded project for native Wisconsin woodland animals, with 1 acre wolf habitat. Construction of nocturnal animal exhibits in Woodland Building and door entranceway log canopies. Received National Science Foundation Grant of $165,159 for national model program development entitled, "Communities and Connections in the World of Nature". Received Wisconsin Environmental Education Board Matching Grant of $4,330 to redo the Web of Life Trail Station - interactive. Received City bond issue of $250,000 to replace 3 small buildings in Feeding Lagoon area with one new Observation/Rehabilitation structure.
1995	60th Anniversary - 60 years of growth and progressive Environmental Education development. Ground breaking on new Observation/Rehabilitation Building.
1996	Completion of Woodland Building. Outdoor Exhibits for Otter, Fisher, Raccoon, Grey Fox and Cougar with viewing kiosks. Completion of Woodland Building indoor interpretive graphics.
1997	Construction of Eagle Aviary and "Raptor Trail" with 14 bird of prey exhibits (hawks, owls, falcons) and Raptor Theater. Addition of full-time Naturalist.
1998	Dedication of Waterfowl Exhibit. Completion of Coyote Habitat. Construction of Butterfly Atrium. Construction of Maintenance/Operation Building begins. Reconstruction of Amphitheater seating. Friends purchase Wildlife Wagon.
1999	"Wildlife World" construction
2000	Resch Conservation Wing
2001	"Critter Encounter" Pods Floating Boardwalk
2002	"Habitat Hollow" - Tree Greenhouse Remodel Website Endowment
2003	Log Home Resch Wing Graphics
2004	Habitat House Honey Bee Exhibit Whirlygig Pond Deck
2005	Nature Center Canopy Burrow Exhibit Hawk Exhibits
2006	Flight Pavilion Maintenance Building II Wildlife Wagon and Wildlife Mural Lagoon Restoration Dredging
2007	Lagoon Restoration - Aeration and Well Drilling and Interpretive Gazebo Manger Lagoon "Springs Wings" - Bird Festival Art Show
2008 to 2010	Resch Waterfalls construction with Kress Nature Trail
2011	75th Anniversary - "Soaring Forward With The Wildlife Sanctuary"