Lake Shore Drive Corridor to Get Walkways by 2030
Owners of nearby Oshkosh properties should expect construction and new native plantings along the lakefront through 2030.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Landscaping
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Oshkosh will invest $2.7 million to redevelop a quarter-mile stretch of Lake Shore Drive south of Menominee Park, with the Lake Shore Drive Reimagination Project planned to start and end in 2030. Merritt Avenue, the road perpendicular to Lake Shore Drive, is also scheduled for redevelopment.
Why it matters
The city is responding to a visually harsh corridor where a water filtration plant sits beside one of its most scenic spots, and the plant's structures, ranging in age from about 60 to 110 years, are overdue for upgrades. Combining the road project with a $54.7 million plant overhaul lets Oshkosh address both the look and the infrastructure of the lakefront at once.
The Lake Shore Drive stretch is about a quarter-mile long, and the $2.7 million budget sits beside a $54.7 million water filtration plant upgrade already underway. The plant's structures range from roughly 60 to 110 years old.
The players
City of Oshkosh
Wisconsin city on Lake Winnebago that is funding and managing the Lake Shore Drive redevelopment and water plant upgrades.
The details
The road will be narrowed to give more space to pedestrians, while parking for fishermen will be kept along the corridor. The redevelopment adds walking trails, sitting areas, and commissioned artwork, along with native plants and water-themed education. Work on the water filtration plant upgrades has already started and is expected to finish in late 2029.
Timeline
Water filtration plant upgrades are expected to be finished in late 2029.
The Lake Shore Drive Reimagination Project is planned to start and end in 2030.
The Home Front
The project ties streetscape design to the upkeep of municipal water infrastructure along the Lake Winnebago shoreline. For Oshkosh homeowners near the lake, it signals how public improvements can shape neighborhood appeal over the coming years.
If your property sits near Lake Shore Drive or Merritt Avenue, expect lane changes and construction activity as the project moves forward. Homeowners considering landscaping along the lakefront may want to plan around the native-plant and walkway features the city describes.
The takeaway
Lakefront projects like this one can change how a neighborhood looks and functions, so it is worth watching city plans if you own property nearby. Check the City of Oshkosh's planning notices for construction timing before scheduling any yard or landscaping work along the corridor.
Further reading
For more on shaping outdoor spaces near the water, see our guide to Landscaping.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGBA.
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