With the grand opening of the spectacular bridge and boardwalk across Lake Waubesa, Dane County has taken a major step in linking our Parks and Trails to a system connecting our communities and natural resources. The engineering masterpiece spans nearly two and one half miles of shoreline and wetlands across the northern portion of lake Waubesa. It will be the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Wisconsin and perhaps the Midwest.
Parks, and Trails are much more than asphalt and wood, they unite communities. This bridge and trail provides a gateway connection from Southeastern Dane County linking McFarland through McDaniel Park with the 2500 acre Capital Springs Recreation Area and Lake Farm County Park.
But parks and trails are not just pieces of land, they are for people to recreate, relax and reflect while enjoying nature's bounty. This new bridge and trail will increase access to a wide variety of activities including hiking, bicycling, birding, picnicking, and disc golf.
Trails become destinations for visitors and tourists. Dane County Parks alone attracts over 2 and a half million visitors per year and the Capital City trail already has over 150,000 users a year and with this new addition a significant increase in both Park and trail use has already occurred.
Probably the most impressive aspect of the bridge is not in its popularity but in the public commitment to do this right. Under the leadership of County Executive Joe Parisi and the support of the County Board it took many years of effort by many professionals including Parks' Chris James. The sensitivity shown for the archeology and native cultural treasures around the trail was painstaking and involved much cooperation from the Ho Chunk Nation.
A large part of this trail corridor are on the National Register of Historic Places for significant Native American history, yet the process preserved this timeless corridor for future generations to visit and enjoy.
In addition, the Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area have sponsored an interpretive signage plan that highlighted the rich Native American history of this region, we look forward to expanding this plan and adding signage to the trail with guidance from the Ho-Chunk Nation.
But the construction care didn't stop there. The careful scientific methods to preserve and even enhance our environmental treasures was done with the utmost of care. We have already seen improved natural habitats in the lake and wetlands. The construction also includes access and a fishing pier for people with physical challenges.
Moreover, eventually it will become the major link for a planned trail system connecting southern Dane County - Stoughton all the way north to Madison. That system will link Viking, Lafollette, Babcock and Lake Farm county parks, Lake Kegonsa State Park, Mc Daniel Park and Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa and the Lower Yahara River. Our plan is to have a trail system connecting all four major lakes for hiking bicycling and even canoeing.
We will treasure this spectacular engineering and environmental masterpiece for many years to come. Many thousands of people will now be able to see and enjoy the lake and its environmental beauties in ways we have never seen before.
We are putting together a necklace of green trails in Dane County linking our communities and parks for the enjoyment of our citizens for decades in the future. With this, a major link to that necklace has been forged.
Parks, and Trails are much more than asphalt and wood, they unite communities. This bridge and trail provides a gateway connection from Southeastern Dane County linking McFarland through McDaniel Park with the 2500 acre Capital Springs Recreation Area and Lake Farm County Park.
But parks and trails are not just pieces of land, they are for people to recreate, relax and reflect while enjoying nature's bounty. This new bridge and trail will increase access to a wide variety of activities including hiking, bicycling, birding, picnicking, and disc golf.
Trails become destinations for visitors and tourists. Dane County Parks alone attracts over 2 and a half million visitors per year and the Capital City trail already has over 150,000 users a year and with this new addition a significant increase in both Park and trail use has already occurred.
Probably the most impressive aspect of the bridge is not in its popularity but in the public commitment to do this right. Under the leadership of County Executive Joe Parisi and the support of the County Board it took many years of effort by many professionals including Parks' Chris James. The sensitivity shown for the archeology and native cultural treasures around the trail was painstaking and involved much cooperation from the Ho Chunk Nation.
A large part of this trail corridor are on the National Register of Historic Places for significant Native American history, yet the process preserved this timeless corridor for future generations to visit and enjoy.
In addition, the Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area have sponsored an interpretive signage plan that highlighted the rich Native American history of this region, we look forward to expanding this plan and adding signage to the trail with guidance from the Ho-Chunk Nation.
But the construction care didn't stop there. The careful scientific methods to preserve and even enhance our environmental treasures was done with the utmost of care. We have already seen improved natural habitats in the lake and wetlands. The construction also includes access and a fishing pier for people with physical challenges.
Moreover, eventually it will become the major link for a planned trail system connecting southern Dane County - Stoughton all the way north to Madison. That system will link Viking, Lafollette, Babcock and Lake Farm county parks, Lake Kegonsa State Park, Mc Daniel Park and Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa and the Lower Yahara River. Our plan is to have a trail system connecting all four major lakes for hiking bicycling and even canoeing.
We will treasure this spectacular engineering and environmental masterpiece for many years to come. Many thousands of people will now be able to see and enjoy the lake and its environmental beauties in ways we have never seen before.
We are putting together a necklace of green trails in Dane County linking our communities and parks for the enjoyment of our citizens for decades in the future. With this, a major link to that necklace has been forged.
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