Racine Council to Review Plan to Rebuild Shoop Park Golf Course

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) – The Racine City Council tonight will hear about a proposal to rebuild and improve Shoop Park Golf Course.

The proposal outlines a $10 million privately funded redevelopment led by golf developer Michael Keiser and architect Craig Haltom. It calls for a complete rebuild of the nine-hole public course near the Wind Point Lighthouse.

Plans include new greens, tees, and bunkers designed in a traditional links style, as well as restoration of dunes, prairie, and woodland habitat with designs inspired by Jens Jensen. He is best known in Racine for developing the city’s first comprehensive park plan in the early 1900’s. His designs are in what’s called the ‘Prairie Style’ of landscape architecture, using native Midwestern plants, natural landforms, and open views.

The course would remain fully public, with a 25% discount for Racine and Wind Point residents.

The concept also calls for shoreline protection along more than a half-mile of bluff, youth caddie and scholarship programs, improved beach access, walking trails, a large public putting area, and a new clubhouse and café.

The golf course sits in the Village of Wind Point, but belongs to the City of Racine, so both communities plus state agencies like the Wisconsin DNR must sign off on any big changes. Locals have raised concerns about trees, wildlife, and the Lake Michigan bluffs near Wind Point Lighthouse

The proposal was first reviewed by the City Council’s Committee of the Whole on March 10th. Tuesday’s presentation is meant to share the same details with the public. No agreement is before the council, and no vote will be taken.