Located on 18.2 acres in Section 32, Leavenworth Township, the park on the East shore of Altermatt Lake includes more than 4,000 feet of shoreline, a picnic shelter, picnic area, charcoal grills, hiking trails and a boat launch.

The handicap-accessible, day-use park developed on the former Treml farm site has an intriguing history in a number of ways.

In 1987, the Brown County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of 18 acres of land at Altermatt Lake for $1 from the Japanese Martyrs Catholic Church in Leavenworth for future county park development.

Commissioners said they wanted to develop a day park and did not intend to install lights or create overnight camping space.

The Treml County Park map depicts the park surrounded on three sides by Altermatt Lake.

Japanese Martyrs Church Trustee Ed Huiras said he was happy that the first step was finally taken to acquire the property for a future park.

“Eventually it is going to be a park. That is what the people of the church want,” he said, according to a Sept. 23, 1987 story in The Journal of New Ulm.

About 18 county residents packed the county board room to debate the property proposal. Most residents opposed it, according to the story.

Brown County commissioners voted to call the property Treml Park, after the Treml brothers who donated their farm to the Church of the Japanese Martyrs, which in turn gave the land to the county for a dollar.

Treml Park, developed by Brown County for $11,500 according to a story in The Journal, opened in September 1988.

Treml Park reservable picnic shelter.

In 2001, the Brown County Park Department learned of the discovery of an intact Native American habitation site in Treml Park. The site’s pristine condition came under threat from a county plan to run a power line to the park’s picnic shelter.

Brown County Park Department Director Jane Starz was contacted by Minnesota State Archeologist Mark Dudzik about Native American artifacts that may date back thousands of years, may lie beneath the surface of Treml County Park. Dudzik’s letter stated the Office of the State Archaeologist wanted to test the site for relics before power line construction began.

A power line was later routed to Treml Park that powers shelter and yard lights.

Fishing enthusiasts say the lake produces panfish.

“It has Sunfish mostly. I used to fish it a few years ago. It’s real shallow in some areas,” said R&R Bait & Tackle owner Francis Rieger of New Ulm.

Treml Park features hiking trails, fishing, a boat launch, a reservable picnic shelter, picnic areas, charcoal grills, an open play area and restrooms at 16365 329th Avenue, Springfield.

“I’ve caught about all the bullheads I could want there, fishing the bottom with worms,” said Scott Sparlin of New Ulm.

Brown County Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp of Comfrey said he enjoyed visiting the park on weekends as a youth.

“My uncle comes to the park from San Diego, Ca. every year to fish for bullheads every year. That’s a long way to go to fish, but he does it,” said Veerkamp.

Brown County Parks Director Robert Santaella said park visitors are more common on weekends.

“I was out there a couple weeks ago and saw people fishing and hiking on trails. The bugs weren’t bad,” he said. “People have used Treml Park for weddings and picnics too. It’s a real nice, quiet, rural, open space with a nice shelter.”

No hunting, firearms or snowmobiles are permitted in the park.

For more information, visit https://www.browncountymn.gov/229/County-Parks.