Vernon County plans expanded park on Bad Axe River
News Release Published: November 4, 2009 by the West Central Region
Contact(s): Lavane Hessler, DNR financial assistance specialist, (715) 839-3751
Ed Culhane, DNR communications, Eau Claire, (715) 839-3715
Property would be added to Esofea-Rentz Memorial Park in Town of Jefferson
VIROQUA – Vernon County has applied for a 50 percent matching grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to assist with the purchase of 68 acres of land in the Town of Jefferson. The county will match the grant amount.
The property is being acquired to expand the county’s Esofea-Rentz Memorial Park. Uses of the land will include hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-county skiing, swimming, camping, picnicking, snowshoeing, nature study and wildlife observation. The property includes 2,160 feet of frontage along the North Fork of the Bad Axe River, a premier trout stream.
The grant would come from a subprogram of the Stewardship Fund designated for the acquisition and development of local parks.
The state Department of Natural Resources has made a preliminary determination that the proposed acquisition will not involve significant adverse environmental impacts and that neither an environmental assessment nor environmental impact statement will be required for this action.
Public comments on the proposed acquisition can be mailed to DNR administrator Vance Rayburn care of Lavane Hessler, PO Box 4001, Eau Claire, WI 54702, or sent by e-mail to lavane.hessler@wisconsin.gov. Hessler can be reached by phone at (715) 839-3751. Comments will be accepted through November 19, 2009.
