If you walk through UW-Green Bay’s former golf course this summer, you might see runners on the fairway, wildflowers on the green or a cactus in a sand trap. With the golf course repurposed in 2021, the space is taking on a new life as an ecological restoration area, cross-country course and university recreation hub, thanks to philanthropic support.

So far, the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity (CCB) staff and student workers have seeded eight acres of the Shorewood Park site with pollinator plants. CCB Conservation Biologist Andrew LaPlant has spearheaded the effort to restore what he calls, “one of the most intensely managed landscapes known to man,” the golf course, to something more natural. Species of prickly pear cacti are native to Wisconsin sand prairies, an ecosystem LaPlant has endeavored to foster in eight former sand traps.

“It’s going to be kind of a mosaic of different plantings,” said LaPlant of the plans for the site. Some of the plants that sprung up absent golf course maintenance indicate an oak savannah landscape.

Midwestern oak savannah is a rare ecosystem. Historical records show it was once common along Green Bay’s east shore and was stewarded by region’s First Nations inhabitants through prescribed burns. LaPlant says he hopes to conduct such burns in the future to encourage the growth of plants like shooting star, a native wildflower which is part of the oak savanna plant community.

The ecological restoration is not the only exciting development for the Shorewood Site. The space also now boasts a 4,000-meter cross country course.

“We’re very spoiled here,” said Coach Mike Kline with a laugh. Kline is the head coach for the men’s and women’s cross country teams. He noted that a 4,000-meter, non-repeating course is a rarity for college campuses. “Runners don’t like going in circles, you know?” he added. More than a benefit for current runners, Coach Kline said the new course has served as a priceless recruitment tool for prospective athletes visiting UW-Green Bay.

The course has already brought thousands of runners and their families to campus. Close to 1,000 high school athletes visited last fall for the De Pere invitational. Green Bay will host that tournament again, as well as the NCAA Horizon League championship this fall. In a couple years, Kline hopes to host the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state cross country meet, an event that would bring over 10,000 people to Green Bay.

Kline emphasized that the course is not just for athletes—the Shorewood site is open to the public, and he estimates over 70 community members walk or run the course daily. “It’s going to be good for people that want to go for walks; you want to walk your dog, or your dog wants to walk you, you’re able to go out on there,” said Kline. LaPlant said he hopes public access to the course can serve as an educational opportunity for community members to learn about native plants and restoration efforts.

Though some lament the loss of the old golf course, supporters of the redevelopment will be pleased to know that native plants, bumblebees, butterflies and birds like the redheaded woodpecker are returning to that corner of campus. So too are thousands of runners and recreation enthusiasts. Coach Kline, who still has his student IDs and parking pass from when he was a UW-Green Bay student in the 80s, said he understands sentimentality. Still, he embraces the benefit of change: “It’s the only thing constant, right?”