In 1917, Dr. Clarendon and Ida Shoop made an extraordinary gift to the City of Racine, with a clear and unwavering condition: that the 52 acres known as Shoop Park "SHALL FOREVER BE HELD, MAINTAINED AND IMPROVED BY THE CITY OF RACINE FOR PUBLIC PARK PURPOSES"   Golf was added 5 years AFTER Dr Shoop died!

This park holds a significant place in our community, not just as a recreational space but as a critical migratory stopover for over 270 species of birds. This is the wild untouched shoreline - they want to replace it with a rock toe, a membrane with Prairie dune grass plugs to mimic a Scottish dunes landscape. The problem is  this will not sustain all of the Migrating birds species. The birds need everything on the shoreline where they land - a canopy, brush for cover from predators and food sources.

On July 21st the Racine City Council voted unanimously to lease the land to build Lighthouse Dunes. We support the building of this golf course under the caveat that they follow best practices and install a Living shoreline and ONLY if it supports a habitat that ALL 270 + bird species rely on, not just shore birds. On board with this plan is the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology and HOY Audobon Society. While we can't save the original Shoop Park we CAN hope to save the birds!

                   Thank you,  SAVE SHOOP PARK SHORELINE coalition MEMBERS!       saveshooppark@gmail.com