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Bender Park
4503 E. Ryan Road
Approximately 308 acres, Bender Park offers a paved boat launch and pavilion in addition to birding areas of planted prairie, old apple orchards, lake, beach, high-quality beech-maple forest, and eroding bluff slope. Bender Park, a lakefront park, is a magnet for migrating birds such as Bald Eagle, Palm Warbler, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Bonaparte's Gull, and a variety of ducks. Resident birds include Belted Kingfisher, Bank Swallow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, and American Robin. Bender Park is also within the hunting territory of a pair of Peregrine Falcons. The beech-maple lakefront forest has a great wildflower display in spring, and also harbors two state-listed plant species and several that are uncommon in southeast Wisconsin.
Bender Park Waterfront
4600 E. Ryan Rd.
With dramatic bluffs to the north and south, and the glint of the sun on Lake Michigan, Bender Park's waterfront is a beautiful site. You'll be attracted to this new recreational development whether you're a boater or you simply want to enjoy the beauty of the lakefront.
You now have a six-lane boat launch for motorized boats, and a sand beach for launching your non-motorized watercraft or for wading into Lake Michigan. Hiking trails along the lakefront allow you to take in the beauty of nature. The waterfront pavilion provides restroom facilities for your convenience.
To get to the boat launch area, take I-94 to the Ryan Rd. exit. Go east to Hwy. 32. Turn left (north) for one block. Turn right (east) onto Old Ryan Rd. The road becomes gravel. At the gate, follow the paved road into the park.
The entrance gate opens at 4:30am and is closed at 10pm. For more information, call the Grant Unit at at (414) 762-1550.
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