Dane County Parks, the largest county park system in a Wisconsin metro area, hosted a virtual meeting Wednesday to promote its Parks and Open Space Plan and the Great Sauk-Walking Iron Trail project.
Welcoming over 4 million visitors each year, Dane County Parks boasts approximately 100 miles of trails and 3,000 acres of conservation and streambank easements, according to its website. Planning Manager Chris James said Dane County is home to “recreation parks, wildlife areas, natural resource areas, historical or cultural sites, forests, trails, easements, everything.”
Every five years, Dane County updates its Parks and Open Space Plan, an endeavor representing county goals for parks, recreation and resource protection. The program connects the county with park partners, stakeholders and the public. From 2018-2023, climate change, resource protection and an increase in mountain biking, disc golf, and dog parks were some significant topics named by the previous plan.
The Parks and Open Space Plan is updated regularly to renew Dane County Parks’ eligibility for stewardship grants. Funding to support recreational development and land conservation is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including the grants Dane County will apply for, according to the DNR website.
Kickoff meetings are arranged through winter and spring to formulate new objectives. After public input is considered, a draft plan is finalized and adopted by the county Board of Supervisors. James said the plan aims to address what happened in the last five years.
“What are people doing, not only in Dane County, but nationwide? What are the trends?” he said at Wednesday’s meeting. “What are we providing in our park system, and what do we need to do to provide for the next population that’s coming in after us?”
The Great Sauk-Walking Iron Trail project will turn three miles of railroad track into a multiuse trail paired with the construction of a new recreation bridge. The project does not affect zoning or development in the area.
The project will take place in Walking Iron County Park and Wildlife Area, a 495-acre park located west of the Village of Mazomanie in the Town of Mazomanie. A recreational bridge will be situated across the Wisconsin River representing the starting point of the Great Sauk State Trail. The bridge will provide future connections to Devil’s Lake State Park, according to a Jan. 8 press release.
Although intended for public use, the trails and bridge will be reversible if the railroad decides to resume freight movement through the area again. The Walking Iron Trail will provide future connections to the DNR Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, Walking Iron County Park and Wolf Run Trail in the Village of Mazomanie, as stated in the press release.
The bridge construction and trail conversion will be funded through multiple sources, including grants from Sauk County and Sauk City and $11 million set aside in Dane County’s 2024 budget.
“You don’t just go to Menards or Home Depot and buy a 500-foot, four-span bridge,” James said. “It takes a long time to build them. It takes a long time to get the materials. You have to do it in stages and think ahead.”
James said the environmental work and construction documents for the bridge are 70% complete, and construction is projected to begin fall of 2025.
“If everything goes as planned, hopefully we’ll be done by 2027,” James said.
Dane County Parks is continuing to request public input through the planning manager’s office at james@countyofdane.com.
