Photo Credit: Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use
The city of Waukesha, Wis., sits along the Fox River in Waukesha County, located approximately 20 miles west of Lake Michigan, and approximately 160 miles east of the Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa. Named by the Potawatomi Indians, Waukesha, which means “water by the fox,” is a growing city of approximately 71,000 residents. The historic districts near downtown and Carroll University offer a range of historic buildings.
Morris Cutler, born June 13, 1810, was the first white settler in the area. On May 7, 1834, he founded what is now the city of Waukesha, with two small shanty buildings. and named it Prairie Village. Prior to his settlement, the Potawatomi Indians had a village on the site. The original land holdings of Cutler totaled 160 acres, some of which is now Carroll University.
The Heart Of The Park
Cutler Park, which encompasses 9 acres, is at the heart of the downtown. It is a few blocks from the Fox River, home to a farmer’s market, recreation activities, new redevelopment projects along the river, and several miles of walking and bicycling trails. The park includes a number of burial mounds, a Civil War cannon, the public library, a playground, winding paths, and the Les Paul Performance Center (LPPC). Cutler Park serves as a neighborhood park for downtown area residents and a community park; it has hosted a number of special events, including art festivals, music festivals, and historic re-enactment activities, and it serves as a viewing area for downtown bicycle races and parades.