Hidden Lake Greenway Trail

The park and open space design team of landscape architects and engineers at raSmith completed the plans and design documents for Hidden Lake Greenway Trail and the City of Brookfield Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry. The project included an extensive amount of earthmoving, filling and restoration along the south rim of a former quarry (now known as Hidden Lake) that will extend the City’s extensive Greenway Trail System, providing connectivity to the newly constructed Hidden Lake Park and offering panoramic viewsheds to the beautiful lake and surrounding landscape.

There is no public access to the lake, but the trail is located in an easement that was developed between the private landowner and the City of Brookfield. This trail segment was a long-time vision of Bill Kolstad (retired director of parks, recreation and forestry) and the City of Brookfield Parks and Recreation Commission.

In addition to the design of the trail, raSmith also provided survey and construction observation services during the implementation of this challenging and exciting trail project.

“This project has received outstanding reviews from the residents in Brookfield,” said John Kelliher, City of Brookfield Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry. “Kudos to your team and the early leadership of Bill Kolstad to make this challenging project a reality.”

This project received a 2020 Park Design Award from the Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association and a 2021 Project of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

Watch this video highlighting the beauty of Hidden Lake Park and the unique challenges encountered in designing the trail.

Photos: UAS (drone) images by raSmith.