Stanley Recreation

The site of Chapman Park was donated to the people of Stanley by the Northwestern Lumber Company after their mill closed in 1922.  The park was named after George Chapman manager of the mill, who made the presentation to the city.  The mill pond was drained and cleaned of the tons of logs which had sunk to the  bottom during the logging years. A new concrete dam was built, brush was cut, sand hauled for a beach and hundreds of pine seedlings were planted.  Over the years toilets, bathhouses, the Maves Memorial Pavilion, lighted ball fields, bleachers, playground equipment, tennis courts, a campground and a deer and elk park were added. On any summer day the park is visited by people having picnics, playing tennis, or enjoying the wildlife of Chapman Park.

On the shores of Chapman Lake the City of Stanley operates a modern campground.  Electrical hookups are available at a limited number of campsites.  A modern shower house and flush toilets are campground amenities. A sanitary dump station is available for use by campers and the residents of the City of Stanley. For information on camping fees call the City Clerk's Office at 715-644-5758.

Reservations for use of the various Chapman Park pavilions, shelters and a large gathering facility can be made by calling the City Clerk's Office at 715-644-5758.

In 1975 land was acquired on the east side of the lake and improvements were made. This is known as Fandry Park. Since then a picnic shelter and some playground equipment has been added.  Fandry Park is also home to the Stanley Veterans Memorial.

Another popular stopping and gathering place is Soo Line Park located on the corner of Broadway and 1st Avenue in the heart of downtown Stanley.  Picnic tables are available, plus one swing set and a teeter totter.  Stanley's Farmer's Market is here every Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., May 19 through October.

Hospital Park, located on Fourth Avenue has a gazebo with several picnic tables and benches.

Otter Lake is located 7 miles north of Stanley.  County facilities include boat landings, camping, swimming and a picnic area.  The bountiful lake provides fishing during all seasons.  An esker (a long narrow ridge of sand and gravel deposited by a stream flowing underneath a glacier) on the west  side of the lake is one of the larger undistributed terminal moraine deposits in Wisconsin.  A state snowmobile trail runs along the lake's east side.