DAY AT THE PARK.  Putnam Park Day will be held on May 5, with trolley rides exploring the park's history in Eau Claire.

Now that the temperatures are rising (and hopefully not dropping again), more people are able to be outside and get some essential Vitamin D. It’s the beautiful turn of the seasons when we see runners, bikers, and families all stretching their legs from a wacky winter, and this May, all are invited to get outdoors for Putnam Park Day.

Those first spring outdoor adventures can move from the sidewalks downtown to more rural trails in and around local parks, and an amazing way to connect to them in Eau Claire is by attending Putnam Park Day on Sunday, May 5.

This historical exploration event will lead attendees through the 230-acre Putnam Park to explore the deep-rooted history of the park and Eau Claire. Routes of the tour will be shared for individuals to use for personal walks or group trolley rides around the area.

“(Putnam Park) is an amazing resource in Eau Claire to have these places where it is possible to walk and to be among trees and plants and animals.” –Tim Hirsch, Friends of Putnam Park

Three trolley tours are planned (at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm), and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (plus taxes and fees). Attendees will meet near the bike rack pavilion nearest the Phillips Hall parking lot outside of Davies Center on the UW-Eau Claire campus. The trolley rides, courtesy of the Chippewa River Trolley Co., will feature seven stops for people to hop on or off the trolley. Stops will include Putnam Drive on UWEC’s campus, the tunnel under State Street, and more. Brochures will be available at the UWEC end of Putnam Park Drive from 1-4pm on May 5, so others can enjoy a self-guided walking tour. 

Tim Hirsch, a member of the Friends of Putnam Park and a retired UWEC English professor, will lead each tour. Hirsch said the park has been a cornerstone for the city for years: His own family moved to Eau Claire in 1967 and later moving within minutes of the park in 1970.

“There’s a fairly substantial population of Eau Claire who has that same privilege here in Putnam Park,” Hirsch said. “It’s an amazing resource in Eau Claire to have these places where it is possible to walk and to be among trees and plants and animals.”

According to Hirsch, the tour will also deepen attendees’ connection to the park by bringing awareness to all the park has to offer, including its rich history.

Tickets for the Putnam Park Day tour are available online. To access Putnam Trail, head to the wood footbridge connected to the Phillips Hall parking lot. This bridge will take you to the back staircase and bike rack pavilion on Putnam Trail.