Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brian Domeier sits on a picnic table in Shirley’s Park Fall Festival on Clear Lake Saturday. Domeier and a friend, Andrea Gehrke, recently cleaned up and repaired property formerly known as the Seifert farm near Clear Lake, just southwest of New Ulm and created Shirley’s Park. Domeier named the park after his mother Shirley Domeier, who he said was in inspiration for the fall festival. Domeier said he plans to have an annual fall festival with live music, home-grown vegetables, fishing and picnicking at the park.

CLEAR LAKE — Polka music from the Dain’s Dutchmen band wafted through the air as people gathered a distance away from the musicians in a recently restored park on Clear Lake.

Shirley’s Park on the south shore of the lake has been created by Brian Domeier at the site of the old Lost Dog & Fox Hunter’s Park.

Domeier restored the property and named it after his mother, Shirley Domeier, whom he said inspired him to host the fall festival that included barbecued food, home-grown vegetables and live music by the Dutchmen and Andrea Lyn.

Domeier said he bought the property because he had fond memories of it growing up and wanted to recreate it for the community.

“Decades ago, there were big birthday parties and annual groups had picnics here. Then it was privately owned for a while until I bought it in January 2019, Domeier said. “My family and friends have been helpful helping me clean it up and rebuild it.”

Domeier said he’s got 11 kayaks for rent at the 27-acre park with a good amount of lake shoreline for fishing or enjoying the view and a walking trail that connects to a nearby county park.

“I want to work with the New Ulm Sport Fishermen and other clubs to make this a natural place to enjoy. It’s only five miles from New Ulm. We’ve got lots of parking space,” said Domeier. “The lake water is pretty clear and the fishing is pretty good.

“It makes me feel good. It’s a joy to see people enjoying this place, having fun here again,” said Dick Domeier, Brian’s dad.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).