“Cedar Point Park Summer”
Cedar Point Park on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
June 16, 2024
When I came upon this scene in Cedar Point Park subdivision in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, I could not possibly have kept walking without photographing the setting. It snared me in its grip due to how the scene so wonderfully represents one slice of life in the subdivision.
Doing this photograph made me stop and think about the many subdivisions bordering Geneva Lake and make general comparisons of the areas. I could not think of any one better than Cedar Point Park.
Such a conclusion is easy to reach. Consider this excerpt from the subdivision website (https://www.cedarpointpark.org/): “Today Cedar Point Park is one of the largest, most beautiful subdivisions on Geneva Lake. Taking advantage of the natural geography of the land, its developer created eight beautiful parkways along 1,800 feet of shoreline (20 acres). The community (consisting of 481 lots) shares these parkways, and all [persons in the community] have easy access to the lakefront, swimming, and piers.”
The website further elaborates about the subdivision: “The Cedar Point Park Association came into existence in 1925. Its founders wanted to create a real estate subdivision out of our beautiful surroundings where property owners could enjoy restful recreation with a maximum of privacy. They [the founders] planned to set up and maintain the highest possible standards for future property improvements and park and waterfront facilities, guaranteeing every member the privilege of enjoying our lakefront. Also, an association-owned system of roads assures privacy for the entire subdivision.”
The subdivision will celebrate its centennial next year. You may read about the history of Cedar Point Park by going to the website and referring to a 45-page booklet published in 2000 for the 75th anniversary of the subdivision.
About my photograph, I made it on August 7, 2005, on south side of the subdivision that is on the north shore of the lake. The rest of the subdivision is on the east side of Williams Bay, the body of water.
I composed the image as I did because I wanted to portray an overall feel of people experiencing various lakefront activities on a summer day. I could have gone closer to the people, but the openness of each parkway is a defining element I wanted to include.
And, of course, the trees throughout the subdivision are simply fantastic, so I had to place them in the photo.
If you live in the Geneva Lake area or even Walworth County and may be unfamiliar with Cedar Point Park, I urge you to walk the shore path that begins at the far eastern end of Edgewater Park in Williams Bay. Head south.
When you reach Cedar Point the point, you will be rewarded with one of the best vantage points on the lake because the path is high above the water. Look north, look west, look south, look southeast. Just incredible! Not just in summer, but all seasons of the year.