Shoop Park Redevelopment Update

September 20, 2026

In second quarter of 2026, the proposed redevelopers of Shoop Park, one of Hoy Audubon’s favorite birding places, obtained their critically needed (and unanimous) Racine City Council approval.

Lead developer Craig Leipold of Wind Point, who teamed up with The Keiser Group for the project, has described his vision as a dunes-style golf course, with many sand traps and few trees to obscure golfers’ vision of Lake Michigan.

The Hoy Audubon Society Board of Directors has opposed the project because of the sweeping removal of trees and other natural bird habitat that it will entail. Wind Point and Shoop Park provide critical habitat for birds migrating along the Lake Michigan pathway, and it is one of the best birding
habitats in all of Wisconsin.

The developers have indicated the work will begin in 2027 — a full year later than Leipold had initially said he envisioned.

Based on the loss of trees and wildlife habitat that would be caused by the current project plans, Hoy filed an official objection to the project with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on September 10. Hoy also sent additional materials concerning the impacted bird species and ecological impact of the project.

If the project does indeed move toward completion, what, if anything, will be left for birds and wildlife?

The developers have promised to plant disturbed areas with native plants. Their consulting ecologist, Jens Jensen, has promised to improve the existing prairie west of Lighthouse Drive by removing unwanted species and planting new native plants into it.

These sorts of changes, however, will take time — years — and in the meantime there will be a certain loss of bird
habitat.

Hoy Audubon will continue to monitor this project and to
provide updates as we learn more.

— Mick Burke, Hoy President