Staff photo by Fritz Busch A couple kayaks on Clear Lake near Shirley’s Park and Country Retreat June 19 as the New Ulm Sport Fishermen club held its 35th anniversary celebration open house at the park.

CLEAR LAKE — A pleasant wind helped keep it cool at Shirley’s Park and Country Retreat while the New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen hosted a 35th anniversary open house on Father’s Day.

Everything was free to the public at the event that included hot dogs, burgers, chips and water.

Sport Fishermen club members assisted anglers that were offered rods and reels to use. The club hosted an information booth as did the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division.

Casting games were held for prizes.

Brian Domeier recently restored the park because of his fond memories of it as a child. He renamed it Shirley’s Park after his mother Shirley Domeier as a way to carry on her legacy.

The park has become popular for picnics, kayaking, musical events and as a wedding venue.

The park is located at the site of the old Lost Dog and Fox Hunters Park, on the south shore of Clear Lake, five miles south of New Ulm.

The club was formed in 1986 and has more than 180 members. Its activities over the years include:

• Annual water quality cleanups.

• Owner, operator and maintenance of Clear Lake’s aeration system.

• Fish management participant for Clear Lake.

• Purchased sand for installing a beach at Clear Lake County Park.

• Installed handicapped access to the fishing pier at Clear Lake.

• Holding an annual fishing outings for Camp Courage for physically challenged children and community youth groups, including Take a Kid Fishing Day and Riverside Park Youth Fishing Contest.

• Riverbank protection and access project at Riverside Park in New Ulm.

• Construction of the city wetland reclamation project, 18 acres in Minnecon Park, co-funded with New Ulm.

• Founding the Sportsmen’s Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River, now known as Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River.

• Participated in the Adopt a River program with annual river bank cleanups.

For more information, visit https://www.shirley’spark.com/