The Edwardsville Parks and Recreation Department has made many improvements at Leclaire Park this fall. The water level of the Lake was lowered in late summer so a stone wall could be installed along the Madison Avenue bank of the lake. There have been issues with the bank (and sidewalk) collapsing for many years, and this offers a permanent solution. While water levels were low, Friends of Leclaire volunteers were able to get out into the lake to recover 12 blocks from the wall surrounding the “beach” and 175 landscaping bricks. Most will be reinstalled before Leclaire Parkfest.
The long-planned for sidewalk, winding its way along the western bank near the playground, was installed this September and is as beautiful as anticipated.
And finally, the old sycamore tree that gracefully bowed over the south end of the lake was removed last month. The old tree had died, but as one local resident observed, it probably had a tackle box full of fishing gear in its branches. It was a favorite fishing spot, where many fishermen cast too high and lost their lines in the tree.