Ending winter, a nice day, a short walk

Just a little past the prime time to catch the land forms that you won't notice once the foliage springs to its seasonal form.   Should be the week to see the Lions Klunker go down, maybe even tomorrow.   Has this even ever been capture on film or video?

Do the car drivers on the bridge even notice it, or even look at the lake?

The water is open a little more from last week, with less snow and more gradual warming it will be interesting to see if there is a "main stream" or current in the reservoir.  Below, the point of land on the opposite bank is the LaPointe Park.  Since the second bridge (rail in view) was added the value of that park has slowly been lost. (somewhat stolen.)

The rail on the bridges are tall.   A fun way to interact with Menomonie is walking around downtown and on the trails, except due to the traffic volume (amount and sound).   A circle tour on the bridges taking in the dam side and lake side in one swoop is usually not as delightful as the edited commercial tourist shows broadcast.   It's a completely missed opportunity by the City of Menomonie, but then regular people are not usually given the opportunity to make a thing happen.   (And judging by the amount of litter and lack of consideration by some, why should the City do anything?)

Once the vegetation springs to life below this will be a fun view to snap a photo of. 

The largest "Wolske Bay" sign is the larger street sign

Menomonie Lakeside park is the repurposed Lange Canning Co. high-nutrient Waste Lagoon.

One of the most natural park settings at the confluence of Wilson Creek and the Red Cedar River is disrupted by the terminal ends of the Federal and State highways bridges that allow excessive speeds of motorists.  Walking across the south end of the bridges is more dangerous, especially with younger and less able people.  To cross from the upper part of La Pointe park to the Wilson Place Museum is only for the adventurous.   Sure, people could walk uphill a block and over the North Campus overpass, and back down, to cross another busy vehicle intersection.  Maybe this is why Wilson Place Mansion didn't get as many visitors since the mid-'90's?

The difference between the UW-Stout standard and the City of Menomonie standard is evident in this stretch of sidewalk.   Twisted concrete tripping hazards and ankle-snapping opportunities abound.   This isn't just a post-winter condition, either.  The chances of vehicles striking people are rather high at this intersection as red-light running is rather common.  If it were a Menomonie baseball field it would look like this at all.  

 Up above is a sampling on a light traffic Sunday morning.  Wolske Bay road sees a large amount of motorists speeding, robbing the enjoyment of a neighborhood walk routinely.  In the sample above is the curious case of Menomonie standards and sidewalks, even when the concrete was being replaced ( a couple years ago) and the traffic count here validates the city's own rules to have a sidewalk on the other side, none was placed there.  
The missed opportunity for trail bump-outs for the Junction to Stokke Trail connection on the old rail line were sadly not taken.    A three post red-reflector "gate" forces users of the Junction Trail onto questionable 1980's-era sidewalk.

Menomonie Public Library

Menomonie Purple Martin birdhouse

The "Milwaukee" rail line passed under here to the left lower corner on its way to Cedar Falls until 1902.