Forest County Outdoor Recreation Plan

1 Prepared by: North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Forest County Outdoor Recreation plan 2017-2021 Effective January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 Also covering the municipalities and towns within Forest County Forest County Board of Supervisors Paul Millan, Chairperson Terry Lukas, 1st Vice Chair William Chaney, 2nd Vice Chair Larry Berg Daniel Huettl Stephen Bunda Ronald Karl David Campbell Lance Laabs Cheri Collins Don LeMaster William Connors, Jr. Jack Matuszewski Bucky Dailey Melinda Otto Don Dehart, Jr. Scott E Shaffer, Sr. Kellee Gallion George Stamper Kris Houle Karl Tauer Forest County Forestry and Recreation Committee Stephen Bunda David Campbell William Chaney William Connors, Jr. Don Dehart Jr.

2 Ronald Karl Melinda Otto Principal authors of this plan David Ziolkowski, Forest County Forestry Administrator Fred Heider, AICP, NCWRPC Planner September 2016 This plan was prepared under the direction of the Forest County Forestry and Recreation Committee by the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. For more information contact: NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION 210 MCCLELLAN STREET, SUITE 210 WAUSAU, WI 54403 Phone: 715-849-5510 ABSTRACT TITLE: Forest County Outdoor Recreation plan 2017-2021 Effective January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 SUBJECT: This report 1) Assesses the existing Recreation system in Forest County ; 2) Identifies Recreation needs based upon public input, past plans, and Recreation standards; and 3) Establishes recommendations for improving the Recreation system over the next five years.

3 Submission of this report to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) establishes eligibility for the County and local units of government for a variety of Federal and State Aids to purchase land and to add facilities to existing Outdoor Recreation lands. The Forest County Outdoor Recreation plan is required to apply for Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and Wisconsin Stewardship Grant funding. Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing Outdoor Recreation facilities. DATE: September 2016 AGENCY: Forest County Forestry Department Forest County Courthouse 200 East Madison Street Crandon WI 54520 CONTACT: David Ziolkowski, Administrator Forest County Forestry Department 715-478-3475 DISCLAIMER: This plan was prepared by the staff of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission under agreement with the above contact.

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS: 1. INTRODUCTION .. 1 - Purpose .. 1 - Statutory Base .. 1 - plan Components .. 1 - Past Plans .. 2 2. DESCRIPTION OF Forest County .. 9 - Physical Characteristics .. 9 - Social Characteristics .. 12 3. EXISTING Recreation FACILITIES .. 24 - Introduction .. 24 - Trail Facilities .. 24 - Public Access Points to Water Bodies .. 28 - Public Campgrounds .. 29 - Points of Interest .. 30 - County Forest .. 31 - City and Town Facilities .. 31 - School District Facilities .. 33 - State Facilities .. 33 - Forested Lands Not State or County Owned .. 35 - Federal Facilities.

5 36 - Private Outdoor Recreation Facilities .. 36 4. Outdoor Recreation NEEDS ASSESSMENT .. 37 - Introduction .. 37 - Recommendations and Projects Completed From 2012 2016 .. 37 - Public Participation .. 38 - Other plan 39 - Needs Driven Park Planning .. 39 5. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .. 41 6. RECOMMENDATIONS & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS .. 42 - Countywide Recommendations .. 42 - County Forest Lands Recommendations .. 43 - Town Recommendations .. 43 - County Facility Capital Improvements 2017-2021 .. 44 7. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES .. 45 8. PROVISIONS FOR UPDATING .. 49 MAPS: Map 1 Potential Trails and Legacy Areas .. 7 Map 2 Outdoor Recreation .. 20 Map 3 City of Crandon Outdoor Recreation .. 21 Map 4 Town of Laona Outdoor Recreation .

6 22 Map 5 Town of Wabeno Outdoor Recreation .. 23 ATTACHMENTS: A. DRAFT Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway Route B. Outdoor Recreation Online Survey Results C. Park Design and Location Criteria D. State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs E. Bog Brook Wildlife Area Forest County CORP NCWRPC Page 1 2017-2021 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION PURPOSE The main purpose of completing the Forest County Outdoor Recreation plan is to provide direction toward meeting the current and future Recreation needs of Forest County . This is accomplished through an inventory and analysis of Outdoor recreational facilities, and the establishment of recommendations to meet identified needs.

7 Adoption of this plan by the Forest County Board and subsequent acceptance by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WisDNR), will continue eligibility of the County and its local units of government for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCON), and Stewardship Funds. Adoption by all municipalities is not necessary if they wish to cooperate with Forest County to use this plan for grant applications. Local government grant applications have a better chance of approval if Forest County applies on their behalf. Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing Outdoor Recreation facilities. STATUTORY BASE This Outdoor Recreation plan was prepared pursuant to Wisconsin Statute Outdoor Recreation Program.

8 This section serves to promote, encourage, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive long-range plan to acquire, maintain, and develop for public use, those areas of the state best adapted to the development of a comprehensive system of state and local Outdoor Recreation facilities and plan COMPONENTS This plan addresses the Outdoor Recreation needs for the entire County , and each local government within Forest County . Background information on Forest County was compiled to develop an understanding of the environmental and social characteristics of the County and their meaning for Outdoor Recreation . An inventory of existing recreational facilities exists in Chapter 3 Existing Recreation Facilities of this plan .

9 The existing Recreation system was analyzed to determine current and potential future deficiencies. A combination of public survey compilation, standards analysis, and the Wisconsin Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation plan (SCORP) were utilized to define recreational and open space needs. Forest County CORP NCWRPC Page 2 2017-2021 The recommendations are general strategies and five-year action programs for Recreation facility development. A series of possible tools to aid implementation of these recommendations are set forth in Chapter 8 Provisions For Updating.

10 The plan concludes with a note on updating to insure that it remains relevant to the needs of the County over the entire five-year span. PAST PLANS This Outdoor Recreation plan was written to continue the parks and Recreation program established in the Forest County Outdoor Recreation Plans of 1977-1982, 1989-1993, 1997-2001, 2002-2006, 2007-2011, & 2012-2016. Summaries of plans and laws that affect Outdoor Recreation : Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation plan (SCORP) 2011-2016 NOTE: This plan is being updated in 2016/2017. Every five years, the Wisconsin DNR publishes a SCORP as required by the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. At its core, this SCORP is used to help allocate federal funds equitably among local communities, but the document also transcends many levels of Outdoor Recreation discussion and policy.