Rally for the Trees on Sunday, October 25th at 1:00pm

News Release

October 16, 2026

There will be a Rally on Sunday, October 25th at 1:00pm in support of the trees at Shoop Park.  We will meet in the parking lot just south of the clubhouse.  

Many of the trees are slated to be cut down in order to transform Shoop into a dune landscape for a new golf course design.

Birds, deer and other wildlife depend on the trees for survival.  There are at least a dozen endangered or threatened bird species who have been seen at Shoop - especially during spring and fall migration.  Shoop is an important stopover because of its location along the coast of Lake Michigan and also because it extends a mile into the lake making it easily accessible to birds.  The dune plan includes removing every single tree along the coastline and creating a hardened shoreline with virtually no habitat.

Please join us on October 25th at 1:00 to show your support for protecting all of the trees in Shoop Park.  You’re invited to create signs showing your support for the trees as well as signs that honor Dr. Shoop’s legacy of creating a Public Park for the people of Racine in 1917 “to be forever held, maintained and improved by the City of Racine for Public Park purposes” and “to be forever called Shoop Park”.  

Public Parks started forming in the mid 1800s in the United States to offer city residents a place of refuge in nature.  They were specifically designed for working class and the working poor.  

Shoop Park is now threatened by a for profit takeover.  

Thank you.

Wendy Sorenson 

Save the Trees at Shoop Park