Coulee River Trail plans forge partnership between Prescott and Oak Grove

There have been times in the past when the City of Prescott and Oak Grove Township haven’t seen eye to eye.

As Prescott continues to grow, much of that expansion is at the expense of Oak Grove’s tax base, as the township surrounds the city’s southern and eastern borders. However, last Wednesday night, elected officials from the two communities were in accord when reviewing plans of what likely will become a premiere destination in western Wisconsin.

Preliminary plans were unveiled for the Coulee River Trail system, with initial phases starting at an expanded Magee Park in Prescott and heading up Highway 35 to Freedom Park before meandering to the 80-acre Pine Coulee property in Prescott and Oak Grove. Plans for the trail system include three under-Highway 35 crossings and pathways along southern Prescott that will border school property.

Jay Stasson of the Coulee River Trail Committee told officials gathered at the joint Prescott-Oak Grove workshop that partnerships with the National Park Service and Landmark Conservancy have been integral to moving the trail development to the next steps.

“There have been quite a few significant developments in the project since we last met with the town board in August 2021,” said Stasson. “This is a wonderful project that will benefit the city, the township and the confluence area as well.”

The critical component of the project is the Pine Coulee site and cooperation from its owner, Kim Christianson, who has been instrumental in helping plan the Coulee River Trail system. That site, which borders the Mississippi River, would be purchased by the Landmark Conservancy to guarantee a lifetime of public use of the land.

“Kim Christianson continues to engage in ongoing discussions with us. We appreciate his interest and his family interest in this project. We think that what we’re trying to

See TRAILS, Page 9

“This is something we can do for our children and our grandchildren and future generations.

The time to seize the day is right now at this meeting.”

-Prescott Alderperson Tom Oss

Barett Steenrod of the National Park Service talked about planning the Coulee River Trail system at a joint workshop between the City of Prescott and Oak Grove Township at Prescott City Hall on Wednesday, April 6. Photo by John McLoone TRAILS

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do here is important and that’s preservation of natural areas instead of development,” said Stasson.

Freedom Park and Executive Director Israel Haas have also been integral to getting the Coulee River Trail system off the ground, or perhaps it would be better stated, on the ground. The Freedom Park board has authorized Haas to help oversee the project and is working with the trail committee so tax deductible donations to the enterprise can run through Freedom Park.

“All of these developments are important to moving this project along,” said Stasson. “And it’s equally important that this is a community partnership. Our committee is a mix of people from the City of Prescott and Oak Grove Township. That’s really the core of the group. Residents of both local governments are actively involved in the project.”

The Coulee River Trail project caught the eye of the National Park Service which stepped in to help map the project, which a local survey shows has community support.

Trails are big tourism business, Barett Steenrod, a community planner from the National Park Service, pointed out.

“The outdoor recreation economy is a real thing in this country,” he said. “It’s bigger than the oil and gas economy.”

Steenrod said the National Park Service has a program that provides technical and planning guidance, and the Coulee River Trail project jumped out at them.

“We become involved in projects at the invitation of local communities to provide assistance where needed. Our intention is to work shoulder to shoulder in a collaborative way,” he said. “Why did this project catch our attention? There are a number of things, but what I want to speak to is passionate community partners. The passion has fallen across the board from multiple communities with multiple angles. We love to see passion in communities on these kinds of projects. We like to collaborate on these kinds of things. We already had a bit of a connection with the Freedom Park Visitor Center. You can actually go there and get a stamp in your National Park Passport. This project is very tantalizing and has an interesting combination of conservation and recreation components that we don’t necessarily see in a lot of places. This is a really fun project to be a part of.”

The survey, the map and the conservancy That passion was evident in a community survey of 216 Prescott and Oak Grove residents conducted late last year. The survey found 98% of local respondents “support a trail system in the Prescott area and expect the local quality of life to be positively impacted by a trail system.”

Currently, 80% of respondents travel out of town to use recreational trails, the survey showed.

The survey found that residents feel the lack of sidewalks and trails makes pedestrian and bike traffic unsafe.

“Lack of trails and lack of sidewalks – those are the two main reasons why people don’t get outside and move around in the community,” said Veronica Justen of the Coulee Trails Committee. “People want to get outside and enjoy nature, and they want to exercise. We’re trying to design a trail system that the community wants. The consensus was that there is a lack of trails in our community.”

Prescott City Administrator Matt Wolf outlined the proposed trail system concept that was developed with the National Park Service’s expertise (see map on page 12). Wolf showed the maps, which indicate proposed trail location, stressing that they are in no way final.

“Final placement of the trails depends on the ground conditions,” Wolf said. “We’re trying to work the trail where it makes sense.”

As for funding the trails, a mix of donations, local park funds and grant money will be solicited to develop the trail. Steenrod said there is federal money available.

“There’s state and federal grant money. They’re funded more now than they were in the past,” he said. “There’s a pot of money that exists, and if the community doesn’t go after it, someone else will. The question is will this community take advantage of it. I hope the answer is yes.”

Development of the trail system will occur in stages across several zones.

The Pine Coulee property is adjacent to Pine Glen Cemetery, and Haas said conversations with Christianson brought the Landmark Conservancy into the picture.

“He took me out on his property,” Haas said of Christianson. “One conversation led to another. We’d take multiple walks week after week. Now it’s turned into a very serious conversation about the future of the property.”

Landmark Conservancy is critical to that future. The conservancy was formerly known as the Western Wisconsin Land Trust, which has helped protect more than 25,000 acres of land and held 177 conservation easements that protect another 20,000 acres from development.

Landmark Conservation Director Rick Remington is already working on an application to the DNR for 50% cost share funding to purchase Pine Coulee, and he thinks the prospects for that are good.

“I feel this is a very competitive project, or I wouldn’t be wasting my time or your time,” said Remington.

If the project gets DNR and legislature approval, he’s hopeful for a real estate closing in within a year-and-a-half. Landmark would be the property owner.

Cooperation

With the plans outlined, Wolf turned the meeting over to elected officials from the two municipalities.

“How do you believe we could work together to get this trail system to move forward?” he asked.

Across both boards, there was a willingness to cooperate to get the Coulee Trails project moving forward. There were questions about parking – initially it would be at the trailhead at Magee Park and there’s access at the Prescott High School site as well. There could be small lots developed along the route as well. It was clarified that no motorized vehicles would be allowed on trails. Policing would be done by local law enforcement and the Department of Natural Resources.

Prescott Alderperson and Parks Committee Chair Bailey Ruona brought up that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been very open to the concept of the trail passing under Highway 35. Its crossing locations are visible on the map.

“We don’t want anybody crossing that road (Highway 35),” Ruona said. “We want them to cross underneath, and the DOT has been very receptive. We don’t have any written agreements, but we have very strong verbal commitments. This is the most moving conversation we’ve had with the DOT. It’s really encouraging to get their engagement on that level.”

Ruona suggested periodic meetings of parks committees of both boards to work together on project planning.

Oak Grove Supervisor Dan Johnson agreed.

“I think this project is wonderful. It’s a great concept. I appreciate the passion,” he said.

“I think everyone recognizes the treasure that area is,” Oak Grove Clerk Andria Hayday said of the Christianson land. “I think it’s a rare thing when you have a landowner willing to allot this to happen. I think that’s very laudable.”

Prescott Alderperson Tom Oss said, “Our worlds are shrinking. Every day we’re getting a little closer together. This is something we can do for our children and our grandchildren and future generations. The time to seize the day is right now at this meeting.”

Both communities agreed to pass a resolution in support of the Coulee River Trail project to be included with Landmark’s application to the DNR.

A map with the dash lines showing the proposed Coulee River Trail System. The trailhead would be at the expanded Magee Park near downtown Prescott and plans are for the trail to cross under Highway 35 in three locations. Map courtesy of Coulee River Trails Committee

Prescott Alderperson Bailey Ruona and incoming Mayor Rob Daugherty listened to discussion on the Coulee River Trail project at a joint workshop meeting Wednesday, April 6 between the Prescott City Council and Oak Grove Town Board. Photo by John McLoone

Oak Grove Supervisor Dan Johnson and Clerk Andria Hayday at a joint workshop meeting on the Coulee River Trail project held at Prescott City Hall Wednesday, April 6. Photo by John McLoone