Wood County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Plan Update
For the City Times
Submitted by Chad Schooley, Director Wood County Parks and Forestry Department
WISCONSIN RAPIDS — The Wood County Parks and Forestry Department is looking for your help.
We want to know how we are currently doing, and what future outdoor recreation opportunities you would like our department to provide. Our Department, along with the Planning and Zoning Department, is in the process of updating the Wood County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Plan. This plan’s last update was completed in 2011.
The plan represents a comprehensive study of outdoor recreation in Wood County. Although the plan inventories all public and private outdoor recreation opportunities in Wood County, primary emphasis is placed on the role the County is expected to play in meeting those demands.
This plan is intended to be a 5 year guide for the Parks and Forestry Department. In order to be eligible for a variety of outdoor recreation grants, administered by the WI DNR, Wood County is required to have a current plan adopted by the Wood County Board of Supervisors.
So how can you help? Beginning on Friday, January 26th, we are asking Wood County residents, and our guests, to take a survey regarding their current parks and forestry use, and desired future projects. You can access the survey on our website, or directly at: http://www.co.wood.wi.us/Departments/Parks/OpenSpacesSurvey.aspx . If you prefer to receive a hard copy of the survey, you can call our office at 715-421-8422. This survey, along with future public comment sessions, will be used in determining recommendations detailed in the final plan.
Just a few projects that have been completed since the 2011 update include: Construction of Red Sands Beach Pavilion, construction of a second shower building at Dexter Park, acquisition of 223 acres of property adjacent to Powers Bluff, Lake Wazeecha dredge project, construction of maintenance and equipment storage buildings at Dexter Park, campground electric upgrades, and upgrades to numerous buildings. Because these projects were identified in the 2011 plan, many of them were grant funded.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please give us a call.
Thank you for your cooperation.
