Dane County Parks & Open Space Plan
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William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park-Lussier Family Heritage Center 3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711
Bob Koch
A resident enjoying one of the many parks and open spaces in Dane County.
A resident enjoying one of the many parks and open spaces in Dane County.
Every five years, the Dane County Parks Division prepares a new planning document to guide park improvements and management, programming and more; this periodic update is also required to qualify for state grant funding. Following up on 2024 public input meetings, the county is now seeking public comment on the draft plan, through May 14, and one opportunity to discuss the plan with parks staff and provide input comes at this drop-in open house session. Review the draft in advance at parks-lwrd.danecounty.gov.
media release: Dane County Executive Melissa Agard is encouraging the public to review the county’s draft 2025-2030 Parks and Open Space Plan, a proposal that will help guide recreation and resource protection initiatives over the next five years.
“Dane County residents have continued to demonstrate strong support for the great park, trail and resource protection projects that are included within this plan,” said Agard. “Many of these projects, such as the Lower Yahara River Trail, started out as ideas that we have heard at public information meetings to update the Parks and Open Space Plan.”
The Parks and Open Space Plan, prepared by the Dane County Parks Division planning staff, identifies significant natural, cultural and historical resources to be protected as well as future park, recreation and trail needs. The plan must be updated every five years for Dane County to remain eligible to apply for state Stewardship grant dollars necessary to help support long-term investment in the county’s quality of life.
Three kick-off meetings were held at various locations to introduce the planning process and provide instructions for how input could be provided on January 17th, April 3rd, and April 15th, 2024. All meetings were well attended by local units of government, non-profit conservation organizations, recreation user groups and the general public.
Recommendations found within the draft plan were based on a variety of planning criteria including local and regional recreation trends, public and stakeholder input, comments gathered throughout the planning process, related planning efforts, population demographics, partnership opportunities and land management considerations.
The plan provides an inventory of the existing park system and makes recommendations for new program initiatives, future park improvements, land acquisition areas, trail projects and park management objectives to be carried out during the next five years by the Dane County Parks Division.
“Our park system has continued to grow in many directions including volunteer and user numbers, size and recreation opportunities offered,” said Dane County Park Commission Chair Tom Thoresen. “The plan is created through a grass roots level planning effort and provides a unified vision that will allow us to meet our ever-diversifying park and recreation needs.”
On Wednesday, April 30, Dane County Parks will host an informational open-house at the Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road in the City of Madison from 2-6 p.m. The meeting provides an opportunity for the public to meet staff, discuss the plan, and provide feedback on the draft plan recommendations. The draft plan is available for review on the Parks website at:
https://parks-lwrd.
Comments on the draft plan will be accepted by phone, letter or e-mail until May 14th, 2025. The final plan is anticipated to be completed and adopted by the Dane County Board this summer.
For further information, please contact: Alex DeSmidt, Park Planning Manager
Dane County Parks Division, 4212 Robertson Road, Madison, WI 53714
Phone: 608.445-8665
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