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Established in 1881 in Milwaukee, Concordia University is a private Lutheran run liberal arts college. It is now sited on the shores of Lake Michigan in Mequon. Recently, Concordia has swung the doors to its campus open and invited the public to enjoy its splendid campus perched on a bluff overlooking a bight which extends from Sheboygan to Fox Point.
Their 2010 lake bluff restoration included an installation of a completely accessible bluff and shoreline pedestrian path. They also host the minor league baseball team Lakeshore Chinooks at the new Kapco Park. Concordia has positioned itself as a local destination and now offers public festivals and other outreach to bring the public in and celebrate the achievements of this university - especially - their bluff stabilization project which was awarded one of the top five engineering feats in the United States in 2010.
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Perseverance is the might of mountains. Erosion, slow though it may be, is natural and inevitable. The bluffs on the West shore of Lake Michigan are living, undulating, and slumping proof of a geological reality - that a mountain perseveres beneath the pleasant pastures of Wisconsin. The slope of this mountain, along with wind set-up, where westerly winds blow greater depths of water to the eastern shore, cause the West bluffs to be steep. When it rains, soaked soil at the surface of the bluff becomes heavier than its foundation and the bluff slumps and slides into the lake.
A lake property is a prize in this wealthy era where dramatic views are more worthy than the productive capacity and sustainability of land. But, a lake property on the western shore of Lake Michigan is a doomed property. I was raised near these shores, and through my years I have seen and heard of innumerable desperate acts to 'save the bluff': Homeowners pouring concrete down the bluffs, tree and grass plantings, dumping rocks and boulders the size of cars down the bluff sides. All these will fail. Slumping bluffs will take down all of the planted grass, trees, and stones with them. If we could stop the sky from raining, then maybe the erosion could be halted.
But, Concordia University and its community have proven that persevering on the west shore of Lake Michigan is possible. Not only has Concordia persevered, they have improved the natural ecology and human ecology of an otherwise barren and unapproachable elemental edge. Their ambitious project was named one of the top five engineering feats in 2010. Its massive scale can be quickly judged when you first arrive at the campus.
The benefits of the bluff stabilization project at Concordia, beyond securing their campus from sliding into the lake, include the addition of a variety of ecological habitats, access to a beach, better views from atop the bluff, and an amazing approach and pedestrian trail system. A Greek styled open air theatre embraces the new topography of the bluff and creates an iconic and social anchor for the University.
By engaging in a project of this scope, Concordia has been enlivened. It has declared itself a destination place in the greater the Milwaukee area. The campus has more energy, and it is more welcoming. And, on the heels of completing their historic bluff project, they have added a stately new ballpark - Kapco Field, which is host to a new minor league baseball team, owned by legendary major leaguers Robin Yount and Bob Eucker - The Lakeshore Chinooks.
Concordia University has persevered for over 100 years. Today it drinks new life and with new purpose from its perch on the bluffs of a Great Lake.
Directions and Trail Map
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
Address for your GPS: 647 Highland Rd
Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097| Coordinates: N43.250423,W087.915566 |
| From Milwaukee | 15 Minutes |
| From Madison | 1.5 Hours |
| From Green Bay | 1.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 2.5 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 5.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 2 Hours |
Photos
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| Lake Bluff Path at Concordia University Wisconsin |
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| Observing the Super Moon at the Lake Moon Festival - Concordia University |
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| Lake Bluff Path at Concordia University - Mequon Wisconsin |
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| Accessible ADA switchback ramp to Lake Michigan shore at Concordia University - Mequon Wisconsin |
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| Beach at Concordia University - Mequon Wisconsin |
Video
Links
Concordia University Wisconsin
Lakeshore Chinooks
TripAdvisor - Things to do in Mequon WI
Nearby Eats:
Highland House - This beach/surf/tex-mex restaurant has been an institution in Mequon for as long as I can remember. They are low key and festive. Try the BBQ ribs or their king burrito, and a refreshing mint cucumber mojito.
Mequon Pizza Company - This is really Tomaso's 2. It's my favorite pizza in the world. Spicy and zesty. They cook cheese onto the cracker thin crust and top it with sauce in a variation of St. Louis style thin crust. The original Tomaso's in Cedarburg is a pinch better - probably due to their seasoned ovens.