Community Spotlight: Jacksonport

For many years, unsafe pedestrian conditions in downtown Jacksonport were a nuisance day-to-day as well as during town festivals like Maifest, Cherry Fest, Taste of Jacksonport, and others. Pedestrians, including the elderly and parents with strollers, were forced to walk in the street near cars, bikes, boat trailers, and other obstacles.

Thanks to a successful GoFundMe campaign and the Jacksonport Area Business Association, the community now has permanent and safe sidewalks throughout the downtown area.

The Jacksonport Farmers Market is held every Tuesday from mid-May through mid-October at Lakeside Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It began 14 years ago with 12 local vendors and has seen steady growth since. Available products are 70% local farm produce and products and 30% locally hand-crafted items.

The market features around 30 booths offering up a wide variety of fresh garden fare, fresh breads, pastries and desserts, honey, maple syrup, jams, jellies, fresh fish and meat, cheese and cheese curds, books by local authors, flowers, handmade soaps, plants, and many interesting gifts and items for the home. Local musicians perform live most weeks, and the market sometimes hosts special events like the Cherry Pie Social.

For visitors entering Door County northbound on Highway 57 from Sturgeon Bay, Lakeside Park in downtown Jacksonport provides them with their very first view of Lake Michigan. It’s a popular overlook for these travelers and a much-loved beach park for locals and vacationers alike.

To help accommodate its increasing popularity, the park has been recently renovated and upgraded. Lakeside Park now has a clean and beautiful beach, picnic areas, a playground, two pavilions, and other amenities. The restrooms have also been modernized and outfitted with a changing stall for beachgoers and swimmers.