Stewardship projects statewide supported by over $7 million in grant investments

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), on Oct 25th, announced 12 projects across the state have been approved for more than $7.7 million in grant funding through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

“The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has been a pillar of our state’s proud heritage of conservation, protecting our natural resources, and preserving our vast and valuable natural areas and public spaces,” said Gov. Evers. “Wisconsin’s tradition of being good stewards of our lands has long been supported through the Stewardship Program, and I’m excited that we’re continuing to build upon our conservation efforts through these 12 projects that will help bolster the accessibility, enjoyment, and preservation of our natural spaces in local communities across our state.”

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program gives the DNR spending authority to support recreational infrastructure on state and municipal properties, including boat ramp facilities, as well as campsite, restroom, and trail improvements through grants available to local governments and nonprofit organizations. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program also enables the DNR to purchase land and easement additions to state properties to aid in the preservation of Wisconsin’s unique outdoor spaces.

Stewardship funds are distributed under six categories:

- Local Government Grants for park land and development;

- Nonprofit Grants for conservation land acquisition; 

- County Forests Grants for county forest acquisition; 

- Recreational Boating Grants for recreational boating facilities; 

- Friends Grants to local state property “friends of” groups; and 

- Motorized Recreation Grants for snowmobile and ATV trails.

Gov. Evers has long championed the advancement of critical stewardship projects in the state of Wisconsin, and this announcement comes as earlier this year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision in Evers v. Marklein, a lawsuit brought by Gov. Evers last year against the Wisconsin State Legislature, which argued Republican-controlled committees such as the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) were unconstitutionally and unlawfully obstructing basic government functions and operations, including by blocking conservation projects under the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. In its decision, the Court determined Republican lawmakers’ actions to block conservation projects were unconstitutional. As a result, projects considered by the DNR for Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funding no longer require JFC approval, allowing the agency to exercise its expertise and longstanding, constitutionally decided power to administer these funds.

Brief summaries of each of the 12 projects approved for funding are available below.

Ashland | $1.02 million
Funded by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Recreational Boating Facilities grant, funding will assist with the development of an ADA-accessible boat launch facility at Kreher Park. The new launch facility will be located on a former superfund site that has been approved for recreational development. It will replace an old, deteriorated boat launch that has been filled in with sediment and timber that has begun to rot and fail, causing a hazard. The project will contribute to the local economy by providing high-quality boating access to Chequamegon Bay and the greater Lake Superior.

The city of Ashland has applied for project funding three times since 2019 but was rejected each time by the JFC. As a result of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision in Evers v. Marklein, the city of Ashland reapplied for funding, which the DNR subsequently approved, finally allowing the project to move forward.

“We are pleased to award this grant to Ashland to develop a new boat launch in Kreher Park,” said DNR Community Financial Assistance Bureau Director Jim Ritchie. “The facility will provide improved boating access to Lake Superior and contribute to the local economy. We applaud the city of Ashland for its efforts to make this project a reality.”

Beloit | $766,133
Funding will assist with completing the riverwalk construction along E. Grand Ave. in downtown Beloit.

Boscobel | $560,370
Funding will assist with engineering and construction costs for phase 2A of the Wisconsin River Trail development project which involves the construction of a 1.9-mile multi-use, accessible, nonmotorized trail along Wisconsin State Trunk Highway 133.

Brookfield | $300,000
Funding will assist with the construction of ADA-accessible restroom facilities at Wirth Park. 

Burlington | $723,320 
Funding will assist with trail and electrical improvements and the development of new gathering spaces at Echo Lake. 

Caledonia | $433,000
Funding will assist with the installation of park signage, gates, a driveway, a parking lot with lighting, an electrical hookup well and septic systems, and a park shelter in Gruetzmacher Park. Additionally, funding will go towards the development of an ADA-accessible trail and walking and bicycling trails throughout the park.

Hillsboro | $513,617
Funding will assist with the construction of walking paths, a new restroom, and a new shelter at Albert Field Memorial Park. 

Menasha | $920,000 
Funding will assist with the realignment of the Jefferson Park boat launch, which will separate park traffic from boat launch traffic, thus reducing congestion and improving safety. The realigned launch will include the construction of a three-lane boat launch and a new parking lot with a better flow pattern.

Milwaukee | $403,625
Funding will assist with the construction of a paved walking loop with lighting and shade structures at Metcalfe Playfield.

Neenah | $1 million
Funding will assist with the renovation and reconstruction of 1,362 linear feet of vertical seawall and 565 linear feet of habitat-enhanced riprap shoreline in Doty Park.

Osceola | $710,347
Funding will assist with the demolition of an existing stairway, the construction of an ADA-compliant stairway, the development of an ADA-accessible trail, and the development of a retaining wall with benches and tables along the trail at Cascade Falls.

Prescott | $363,617
Funding will assist with the development of a riverfront trail, the construction of a pavilion with restrooms, and a parking lot along the riverfront.

More information about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program can be found on the DNR’s website here.