Blizzard 2026 03

So this was an interesting weekend. With a marriage conference and thunder snow, there wasn’t much time for a hike. But we did find a couple smalls park between the end of the conference and the start of the snow on Saturday.

So this week we visited Conservancy Park and Fresh Air Park in Neenah. These two small parks are near or on Lake Winnebago.

Key Features of Conservancy Park

• Paved Walking Trail: A well-maintained paved trail winds through the park grounds, making it a popular spot for both leisurely strolls and running.
• Wetland & Wildlife Habitat: The park features a wet retention pond that provides a home for various wildlife, including turtles and geese.
• Native Landscaping: The area is carefully landscaped with prairie grasses, wildflowers, and wetland plantings to support the local environment and provide seasonal visual interest.
• Amenities & Accessibility: Visitors can utilize picnic tables and benches placed throughout the park for rest. The park is noted for its accessibility, featuring a paved trail and a designated parking lot.

Key Features of Fresh Air Park

• Lake Winnebago Shoreline: The park features 180 feet of shoreline, which includes a rare public swimming beach area with soft sand and scenic views across the lake.
• Paddling and Fishing: It serves as a convenient launch point for kayaks or canoes and is a popular spot for both summer fishing and winter ice fishing.
• Classic Amenities: The grounds are kept simple to maintain a tranquil atmosphere, offering open green space and several picnic tables for visitors.
• Seasonal Activities: During the winter months, the area is frequently used by snowmobilers and ice boaters due to its easy access to the frozen lake.

Review

My wife and I started by attending a marriage conference at Calvary Bible Church. We were invited by my brother in law and saw a few people we new from other places while we were there. While my wife and I feel we have a pretty solid relationship, it was nice to learn some new techniques to communicate.

Leading into this weekend the biggest thing on most people’s minds was the in coming blizzard. For the most part people prepared for it but I doubt any one thought we would get as much snow as we got.

The weather was supposed to start at around 5PM Saturday evening. With the conference ending around 12:30PM we had to find a quick hike.

Since we were in Neenah already we decided to check out Conservancy Park. This small park on the south east side of Neenah sits between Lakeview Elementary School and the lake. Though Lake side homes separate the park from the lake.

The park consists of a wooded area with a dirt path, an open section with a paved loop, and a small pond. There is also a parking lot for visitors.

We parked in the lot when we got to the park. Getting out we started taking pictures and hiked the short paved loop. After hiking that loop we started to look at hiking the dirt trails. However just after we left the paved trail, the dirt trail was blocked by a partially fallen tree. Feeling that the fallen tree was a dangerous hazard, we returned to our car.

Then I though we may be able to see some ice shoves from another park. So we traveled to Fresh Air Park. A small park on the shores of Lake Winnebago.

Fresh Air Park is nothing more than a sliver of land with a parking lot some trees and a beach. It’s nestled between houses on the shores of the lake. We took a few pictures while we were at the park, which included a cardinal.

While at the park a familiar but recently absent sound echoed throughout the neighborhood. Behind the houses on the opposite side of the road from the park is a cattail filled marsh. From that marsh came the calls of Sand Hill Cranes. We could see them from the park but they were too far to photograph.

After we were done at the park we headed home to get ready for the storm. A quick stop to pick up some groceries turned into an adventure of its own. Due to the storm the store was packed. Check out lanes backed up into the isles.

Eventually we were able to get home. I took a few pictures in the yard to be able to reference. Even got a good picture of a Red-tailed Hawk.

The hike this weekend was short but enjoyable. The Conservancy Park is a nice park. While the open area is well constructed, the wooded areas are still being worked on. I look forward to visiting in the future. Fresh Air Park was nice as well but there is not much there.

Now I need to work on the shoveling so I will leave the blog here. Thanks again for reading and hope you return next week.