Signs And Ribbons Appear On Trees Along Lake Drive

SHOREWOOD, WI— Many of the trees along Lake Drive near Atwater Park have been affixed with green ribbons and signs stating "SAVE ME." Dozens of yard signs saying "Keep Lake Drive Green" have also been on prominent display up and down the state highway in Shorewood.

Shorewood's segment of Lake Drive is due for a replacement. That replacement could bring drastic changes altering how parking works on the street, if bike lanes are to exist, and if trees along the roadway are to come down, according to proposed project plans.

The many changes that will happen may necessitate a road widening. That road widening could bring trees down.

The signs that have popped up on trees alongside the segment of Lake Drive near Atwater read out "SAVE ME," followed by a statement.

"Save the Trees of Lake Drive. They are being threatened. Not by disease nor pestilence. Not by timber barons, but by the Wisconsin DOT who wants to take them down," the statements attatched to trees along Lake Drive said.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is in charge of the project. WisDOT held two listening sessions to gauge public opinion on a few possible project designs, according to the project website.

The plans are available on the WisDOT website, alongside a survey for the public to submit their thoughts. The project is slated for 2026, with plans still in the works.

The project is planned in three segments: Edgewood Avenue to Shorewood Blvd, Capitol Drive to Jarvis Street and Jarvis Street to Kensington Blvd.

Each segment has a few different plans. The plans show that designs may decide between a few key things. For example, one option would sacrifice one lane of parking to allow for bike lanes. A different plan could widen the roadway, allowing for two lanes of traffic or two parking lanes but not include bike lanes.

Community members can submit their opinion on the Lake Drive project through a survey.

WisDOT officials did not immediately reply to Patch's request for comment.

Behind the yard signs along Lake Drive is Keep Lake Drive Green (KLDG), a community group of neighbors, residents and Lake Drive users seeking to preserve the historical value of North Lake Drive, the KLDG website states.