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Trails Network would allow bicycle access throughout state, county

By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
Imagine wanting to hop on your bike in Stevens Point and travel to Ashland or the Mississippi River without having to contend with automobile traffic during your entire trip.

That could happen if proposed recreational trails included in the State Trails Network Draft Plan become reality.

"Basically what it does is identify a main artery of trails - both existing and proposed," said Danielle Valvassori, the Department of Natural Resources state trails coordinator. "If you think of the interstate system of highways, this is sort of the interstate system of trails."

Three of the proposed trails would cross Portage County.

A north-south trail would link Ashland to the Wisconsin/Illinois state line, while an east-west trail would connect Green Bay to the Mississippi River. Another planned trail would connect Plover to Appleton.

The proposed trails would add to the wealth of trails already existing or under development in Portage County - the Ice Age Trail, the Tomorrow River State Trail and the Green Circle Trail. Some of the proposed trails connect to and follow portions of the existing routes.

In the DNR's West Central Region, the Ashland to Illinois trail would run from Tomahawk to Wisconsin Dells. The draft plan identifies a power line corridor along Highway X from Wausau to Stevens Point that should be considered a component of the statewide backbone trail system. Along with linking Wausau and Stevens Point, the proposed trail could also link the Green Circle Trail and several other proposed trail corridors.

South of Stevens Point, the draft plan suggests the trail use roadways that generally follow the Wisconsin River and that would provide access to Roche-A-Cri and Buckhorn state parks.

The Green Bay to Mississippi River trail would start in Marshland, across the Mississippi River from Winona, Minn., and follow a railroad line paralleling the Trempealeau River east to Merrillan. From the Black River State Forest to City Point, it would follow a railroad corridor. From City Point to Wisconsin Rapids, it could remain on the railroad corridor or use roadways. It would link with the Tomorrow River State Trail between Plover and Scandinavia and the Wiouwash Trail in New London.

From Appleton, the third proposed trail would follow a rail corridor northwest through New London, south of Manawa, then to Ogdensburg, Amherst Junction, then to Plover where it would connect with the Green Circle Trail.

Many of the proposed trails in the state are on railroad corridor. Some of the corridors are still active railroad lines, but by identifying the corridors, the DNR can act more quickly if and when a rail line is abandoned, Valvassori said.

The trail plan requires approval by the state Natural Resources Board, Valvassori said. The DNR worked cooperatively with the state Department of Transportation to make sure the DNR's plan fits in with the DOT's Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020.

Wisconsin has state trails that are acquired and maintained by the state, but in some situations local governments develop and maintain the trail, she said. This plan would continue both models. The plan doesn't identify what user groups can use a specific trail. Decisions on what uses will be allowed on what segment will be made during the master planning process after a corridor becomes available.

"I think linear trails are going to be a real important part of recreation in the future," Valvassori said. "They will allow families to get from state park to state park, or to go across the state."

The DNR is holding a series of public meetings on the State Trails Network Plan. Meetings will be held in Eau Claire on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Spooner and Fitchburg on Thursday, Oct. 12, Milwaukee on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and Rhinelander on Wednesday, Oct. 18. Written comments are being accepted until Tuesday, Oct. 31. They can be mailed to the DNR Bureau of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, or e-mailed to grubeb@dnr.state.wi.us.



	Trails Network would allow bicycle access throughout state, county By BRIAN LEAHY of The Gazette Imagine wanting to hop on your bike in Stevens Point and travel to Ashland or the Mississippi River without having to contend with automobile traffic during your entire trip. That could happen if proposed recreational trails included in the State Trails Network Draft Plan become reality. "Basically what it does is identify a main artery of trails - both existing and proposed," said Danielle Valvassori, the Department of Natural Resources state trails coordinator. "If you think of the interstate system of highways, this is sort of the interstate system of trails." Three of the proposed trails would cross Portage County. A north-south trail would link Ashland to the Wisconsin/Illinois state line, while an east-west trail would connect Green Bay to the Mississippi River. Another planned trail would connect Plover to Appleton. The proposed trails would add to the wealth of trails already existing or under development in Portage County - the Ice Age Trail, the Tomorrow River State Trail and the Green Circle Trail. Some of the proposed trails connect to and follow portions of the existing routes. In the DNR's West Central Region, the Ashland to Illinois trail would run from Tomahawk to Wisconsin Dells. The draft plan identifies a power line corridor along Highway X from Wausau to Stevens Point that should be considered a component of the statewide backbone trail system. Along with linking Wausau and Stevens Point, the proposed trail could also link the Green Circle Trail and several other proposed trail corridors. South of Stevens Point, the draft plan suggests the trail use roadways that generally follow the Wisconsin River and that would provide access to Roche-A-Cri and Buckhorn state parks. The Green Bay to Mississippi River trail would start in Marshland, across the Mississippi River from Winona, Minn., and follow a railroad line paralleling the Trempealeau River east to Merrillan. From the Black River State Forest to City Point, it would follow a railroad corridor. From City Point to Wisconsin Rapids, it could remain on the railroad corridor or use roadways. It would link with the Tomorrow River State Trail between Plover and Scandinavia and the Wiouwash Trail in New London. From Appleton, the third proposed trail would follow a rail corridor northwest through New London, south of Manawa, then to Ogdensburg, Amherst Junction, then to Plover where it would connect with the Green Circle Trail. Many of the proposed trails in the state are on railroad corridor. Some of the corridors are still active railroad lines, but by identifying the corridors, the DNR can act more quickly if and when a rail line is abandoned, Valvassori said. The trail plan requires approval by the state Natural Resources Board, Valvassori said. The DNR worked cooperatively with the state Department of Transportation to make sure the DNR's plan fits in with the DOT's Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020. Wisconsin has state trails that are acquired and maintained by the state, but in some situations local governments develop and maintain the trail, she said. This plan would continue both models. The plan doesn't identify what user groups can use a specific trail. Decisions on what uses will be allowed on what segment will be made during the master planning process after a corridor becomes available. "I think linear trails are going to be a real important part of recreation in the future," Valvassori said. "They will allow families to get from state park to state park, or to go across the state." The DNR is holding a series of public meetings on the State Trails Network Plan. Meetings will be held in Eau Claire on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Spooner and Fitchburg on Thursday, Oct. 12, Milwaukee on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and Rhinelander on Wednesday, Oct. 18. Written comments are being accepted until Tuesday, Oct. 31. They can be mailed to the DNR Bureau of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, or e-mailed to grubeb@dnr.state.wi.us.