Neenah broke ground on its Kimberly Point Lighthouse renovations. Sept. 9, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Neenah broke ground on its $600,000 Kimberly Point Lighthouse renovation project, one that will restore the deteriorating interior and facade and create new ADA-accessible bathrooms.
The city is spending $300,000 in taxpayer funds, which is matched by $300,000 in private donations. It kicked off the campaign last August.
“We’ve been thinking about this and planning for it for a long time,” said former Mayor Jane Lang, who spearheaded the project before retiring this past spring.
The lighthouse will maintain the same appearance its had for decades, just updated to ensure its preservation.
“The structural integrity of it is very unsound,” said Parks Director Michael Kading. “Most of the wood inside is dry rotted, and it needs to be rebuilt now to last another 70 years.”
The lighthouse was originally donated by the Kimberly family, descendants of the Kimberly-Clark founders.
“I don’t have words for it, because it’s that important both to the community but also to me personally,” said Tom Sutter, part of the Kimberly family.
Lang is also a descendant of the Kimberly family.
“The fact that we’re making accessible bathrooms here and making the lighthouse preserved for generations to come,” said Lang, “it’s a continuing story of our community coming together to make access for everyone to enjoy this beautiful spot.”
Sutter hopes to carry on the legacy of his great-great aunt and great-great uncle, whose lives are past but legacy isn’t.
“They would just smile and say, ‘thumbs up,'” said Sutter with a grin.
The project is expected to be finished by next spring. About 200 private donors gave to the project, whose contributions will also cover future maintenance of the lighthouse.
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