What was once an eyesore has become a popular fishing spot and viewing area for everything from sunsets to fireworks.
Using $200,000 from the NRDAR, the Porlier fishing pier and observation area was created on Green Bay's east side. The pier was once a trestle that carried trains across the Fox River, but it fell into disrepair and had been unused since the 1990s. The pier trestle was further damaged by arsonists in 2003 but remained structurally sound.
This project, led by the city of Green Bay, involved constructing a barrier-free fishing structure on the shore of the Lower Fox River. The new facility also provides increased shoreline fishing access to the game fish passing through the waters of the Lower Fox River. The pier is enclosed by wooden railings.
This project seeks to bring people back to the waterfront to enjoy and appreciate the resource again. An added attraction is that the fishing pier is connected to the Fox River Trail, which is popular with walkers and bicyclists.
George Boronow, a DNR fisheries program manager and avid angler, says the area also has become quite the hot spot along the Fox River for shoreline fishing.