Lakes in Madison (Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine: waterpark, house, safe area)

[TheresaKopp]

Hi all. Could you tell me if the lakes in Madison are clean to swim in? I read somewhere that they are not. Also, do people boat in them? We are trying to decide where to relocate our family and we really want to choose a place that has clean beaches. We have thought about Madison, Racine/Kenosha, & Milwaukee. Any suggestions would be great! We have 4 children and would love to find a family friendly, progressive thinking area.
Thank you,
Theresa

[Meteor10]

Hi Theresa,

Some people think that the lakes here are gross, some don't...Certain beaches are much cleaner and nicer than others (I like Tenney, BB Clarke and Vilas). I love to swim here in the summer...though it's certainly not going to be like swimming in a pristine clear lake in the north woods of Wisconsin. There are times when the beaches close for a week or so (usually near the beginning of July) due to algae blooms.

People definitely boat on the lakes here - especially Mendota. Madison is a terrific outdoors city, with tons of parks, waterfont, bike paths, etc. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[Chelito23]

Boating on the lakes is huge.

The smell and excessive algea growth and "seaweed" prevents people from swimming in them.

There are several beaches nonetheless, but I guarantee you that more Madison residents pay to be members of a swim club or gym before swimming in the local lakes.

[Mad Taoist]

In terms of progressive thinking, Madison is at the top of your list and likes to brag about it.
Racine/Kenosha have a near 50/50 Dem/Repub voting record.
Madison is typically 2/3rds Democrats.
I can't remember a summer that didn't have beach closings on the two big lakes due to bacteria levels, and the boating traffic gets very busy on major holiday weekends.
For both of these reasons, we travel to Mt. Horeb to go to a little swimming hole that doesn't allow motor boat traffic.
Madison has one motor free lake named Wingra, does anyone else know about the cleanliness of that beach? The neighborhood of the same name is a great area to look for a house (if you can afford it).

[TheresaKopp]

Hi everyone. Thank you for all of your replies. When I mention progressive I am not meaning liberal democrat. What I am wondering is if an area is forward thinking for lack of a better term, we are not wanting to move to hicksville. So we are wondering if anyone can tell us about the Racine/Kenosha area as well as Milwaukee. We can tell that Madison has a lot to offer (just wish the beaches were better) Our thinking is that it is quite an undertaking to move our family with 4 children and so we want to make sure that we make a really good decision on where to go. We are totally open to any suggestions, maybe there is an area that we haven't thought of that would be really nice for our family. Basically we want to be by a nice swimming/boating lake, a forward thinking area, good schools (our kids go to a Catholic school), family friendly, safe area. Once we find that place my husband is going to focus on getting a job in that area.
Again, we appreciate all of your time and thoughts A LOT!
Theresa

[Mad Taoist]

Originally Posted by TheresaKopp

When I mention progressive I am not meaning liberal democrat.

Sorry for misinterpreting. I'm sure you've noticed that the term "progressive" has been politicized in the last decade. Hence I thought you were inquiring about politics. Coincidentally, the national magazine "The Progressive" is published on the near east side of Madison.
I've lived all over the nation and all over the world, and Madison is a rather progressive place in most meanings of that word, save for its lack of racial diversity.
I went to "Queen of Peace" Catholic school for eight years and loved every minute of it. The neighborhoods in walking distance to that school are some of the best in the city.
As for Milwaukee and Kenosha, there are usually some Milwaukeeans that browse this Madison forum, but you'll get a better response if you post your question in the Milwaukee forum.
I've been to Milwaukee hundreds of times, and the industrial feel that is requisite to any city that size has always been a deterrent for me.
I've been to the Kenosha area a few times, and its smaller size lacks some of the amenities that I've become addicted to here in Madison: e.g. four different organic grocers, several Himalayan restaurants, Community Pharmacy, and generally the vitality and pulse of a town with such a big university.
Madison's negatives:
The vinyl clad suburban sprawl and big box store explosion that has occurred around Madison's periphery is pushing us from being a big town to being a small city.

[Megan1967]

Queen of Peace is supposed to be an excellent school. I grew up on Janesville and went to a parochial school. One of my favorite teachers moved up here and worked at Q of P, but she might be retired. Her name is Pat Tregoning. (was Mrs. Jacobsen when I knew her).

People love to bash Madison by saying it isn't as forward thinking as "it" thinks it is, but it is a very nice place to live and fairly tolerant of individual differences.

[Nique]

A lot of people swim in the lakes in the summer, though they are usually closed for a week or two due to algae, as previously mentioned.

What no one has mentioned is two years ago the city built a huge, beautiful community pool/mini waterpark downtown. So when the lakes aren't clean enough (the beaches themselves are fine) you can always go to the pool.

I think the schools here are great. My family moved here from Denver when I was 12, and we were really happy with our experience in MMSD.

[Wellstone]

Originally Posted by Mad Taoist

In terms of progressive thinking, Madison is at the top of your list and likes to brag about it.
Racine/Kenosha have a near 50/50 Dem/Repub voting record.
Madison is typically 2/3rds Democrats.
I can't remember a summer that didn't have beach closings on the two big lakes due to bacteria levels, and the boating traffic gets very busy on major holiday weekends.
For both of these reasons, we travel to Mt. Horeb to go to a little swimming hole that doesn't allow motor boat traffic.
Madison has one motor free lake named Wingra, does anyone else know about the cleanliness of that beach? The neighborhood of the same name is a great area to look for a house (if you can afford it).

unless it has changed recently i don't believe wingra is a motor free lake. it's also not very clean either, very similar to the other madison lakes. too many waterfowl end up crapping in the beach areas eventually forcing them to close.

[nanannie]

What lakes within an easy drive would you all suggest for that "pristine' nice swimmiing area, not so crowded as in the city itself >? Or are you keeping it secret ?