Ripley Park
In 1946, the Cambridge Foundation took on the responsibility of maintaining Ripley Park. This is an 18 acre park that is located on the west shore of Lake Ripley and has been a beach for many years prior to the Foundation acquiring it. Over 75 years have passed since the Cambridge Foundation was honored with the care of the Park. There have been many various improvements and changes to the park during the years that the foundation has been responsible for maintenance of the Park.
Drone flyover footage of Lake Ripley Park in Cambridge, Wisconsin.
This beautiful park has something for everyone! Bring your family and friends to the park and enjoy a day at the beach. Ripley Park is home to two tennis courts, a basketball court, a children's play structure, volleyball courts, and much more. Also available is an on-site bathhouse with showers. Don't forget to stop by the Ripley Park concession stand to check out our many new items - including Slush Puppies and nachos!
A short excerpt from the August, 1992 issue of Ford Times magazine:
"That's why my favorite beach is at Lake Ripley in south-central Wisconsin. A voyage to Cozumel required advance planning - not to mention money - but Lake Ripley is so close to home that I can throw on my swim trunks, hop in the car and be there in 20 minutes. Lake Ripley is a family place, and my brood has celebrated several high-water marks in Ripley's ripples. It was where my baby did her first splashing outside of the bathtub and where my older daughter learned to dive, using my shoulders as a platform. Lake Ripley means so much to me that, at times, I've felt married to the place."
To find out about on-going activities at Ripley Park, check out the Cambridge Community Activities Program website today!
Lake Ripley Park Improvement Project
In 2019, Jay Settersten (Settertech) developed conceptual plans for significant upgrades to Lake Ripley Park regarding stormwater management, aesthetic, and ecological improvements.
The concept of this plan was to provide features throughout the park which aid in the reduction of stormwater contaminants reaching the beach area and lake, clean stormwater, create more usable space in the park, provide ADA access to the beach, provide access to the beach for emergency vehicle access, reduce erosion throughout the park, reduce goose habitat throughout the park, develop a high quality wetland, and create substantial areas of native habitat, geared toward amphibians, pollinators, and birds.
The overall goal of this park restoration was to increase consistent usability of the park while improving and maintaining the natural resources of the park to the greatest extent possible.
Lake Ripley Park Wetland Area before the Improvement Project
Lake Ripley Park Wetland Area after the Improvement Project
In spring of 2020, Eco-Resource Consulting, Inc. (ERC) provided the actionable budget and implementation timeline for the Lake Ripley Park Improvement Project.
During 2020, ERC oversaw the excavation and grading for Phase I of the project and installed native seeds, plants, and erosion control material.
In 2021, ERC oversaw construction and conducted all site preparation, product procurement, vegetation installation, and most erosion control product installation associated with Phase II of the project.
ERC conducted vegetation maintenance activities to the vegetation that was installed as part of the General Contracting Oversight and Implementation of the Lake Ripley Park Improvement Project. Maintenance activities included, but were not limited to, the following actions:
Native plant watering
Maintenance mowing
Hand weeding
Spot herbicide treatments (targeting non-native vegetation)
Erosion control inspection and maintenance
Wildlife and pedestrian exclosure (fencing) placement and removal
Supplemental seed and plant installation
