Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2012 - 2016 PORTAGE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN 2012 - 2016 Adopted By: Portage County Planning and Zoning Committee: January 24, 2012 Portage County Park Commission: January 12, 2012 Portage County Board: February 21, 2012 Amended: April 15, 2014 Prepared Under the Direction of: Portage County Park Commission Mike Wiza, President Don Butkowski, Vice-President Jeff Presley Michael Splinter Michael Zdroik – Citizen Mary Devine-Giese – Citizen George Kraft – Citizen Portage County Parks Department Gary L. Speckmann, Park Director Prepared With the Assistance of: Portage County Planning and Zoning Department Jeff Schuler, Director Charles Lucht, Associate Planner Jeff Hartman, GIS LIS Manager Rod Sutter, GIS Technician Table of Contents SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 1 Portage County Park Commission ......................................................................................... 1 Past Planning ......................................................................................................................... 1 Current Planning Process ....................................................................................................... 2 SECTION 2 COUNTY CHARACTERISTICS ...................................................................... 3 Population Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 3 Land Use Summary ............................................................................................................... 6 Climate Data ......................................................................................................................... 7 General Physical Characteristics ............................................................................................ 7 SECTION 3 COUNTYWIDE RECREATION IN PORTAGE COUNTY .......................... 17 Portage County Parks Inventory .......................................................................................... 17 Other Recreation-Related Activities .................................................................................... 54 State Recreation Inventory .................................................................................................. 59 SECTION 4 COUNTYWIDE RECREATION GOALS AND POLICIES .......................... 63 Outdoor Recreation Goals ................................................................................................... 63 Outdoor Recreation Policies ................................................................................................ 63 SECTION 5 COUNTYWIDE RECREATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ................. 65 Acquisition Projects ............................................................................................................ 65 Development / Improvement Projects .................................................................................. 67 SECTION 6 TOWN OUTDOOR RECREATION ............................................................... 69 Town Park Inventory ........................................................................................................... 69 SECTION 7 VILLAGE OUTDOOR RECREATION .......................................................... 77 Village Park Inventory ........................................................................................................ 77 Appendices Appendix A – Financial Assistance Programs ......................................................................... A-1 Appendix B – State SCORP Priorities ..................................................................................... B-1 Maps Portage County River & Lake Public Access ............................................................................. 9 Portage County-Managed Parks ............................................................................................... 18 Al Tech Park ........................................................................................................................... 21 Becker Lake Recreation Area .................................................................................................. 22 Carrie Frost Park...................................................................................................................... 23 Cate Park ................................................................................................................................. 24 Collins Park ............................................................................................................................. 25 Consolidated Park .................................................................................................................... 27 Dewey Marsh .......................................................................................................................... 28 DuBay Park ............................................................................................................................. 29 Galecke Park ........................................................................................................................... 32 Jordan Park .............................................................................................................................. 33 Lake Emily Park ...................................................................................................................... 34 Lake Helen Park ...................................................................................................................... 35 Lake Jacqueline Park ............................................................................................................... 36 Lake Meyers Boat Landing ...................................................................................................... 37 Mill Creek Preserve ................................................................................................................. 39 Peterson Park ........................................................................................................................... 40 Plover River Wayside .............................................................................................................. 41 Portage County Cemetery ........................................................................................................ 42 Rinehart Lake Boat Landing .................................................................................................... 43 Rocky Run Preserve ................................................................................................................ 46 Standing Rocks Park ................................................................................................................ 47 Stedman Wayside .................................................................................................................... 48 Sunset Lake Park ..................................................................................................................... 49 Tomorrow River State Trail ..................................................................................................... 50 Tomorrow River Wayside ........................................................................................................ 51 Wisconsin River Recreation Area ............................................................................................ 52 Wolf Lake Park ....................................................................................................................... 53 Portage County Snowmobile Trails .......................................................................................... 55 Green Circle Trail .................................................................................................................... 56 Portage County Trails .............................................................................................................. 58 State Recreation Lands ............................................................................................................ 60 Town Location ........................................................................................................................ 70 General Village Location ......................................................................................................... 80 Village of Almond Parks ......................................................................................................... 81 Village of Amherst Parks ......................................................................................................... 82 Village of Amherst Junction Parks ........................................................................................... 88 Village of Junction City Parks ................................................................................................. 89 Village of Nelsonville Parks .................................................................................................... 90 Village of Rosholt Parks .......................................................................................................... 93 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Parks have become an integral part of our lifestyles. These areas provide many benefits to a great cross-section of County residents. Children learn to interact and play with other children, teens enjoy having a place to play and hang out with one