For Hub City Times

The Wood County Parks and Forestry Department is looking for public input, as the department, along with the Planning and Zoning Department, updates the Wood County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Plan.

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. This plan’s last update was completed in 2011.

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, the 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.

Wood County residents are asked to complete a survey by visiting http://www.co.wood.wi.us/Departments/Parks/OpenSpacesSurvey.aspx  or to receive a hard copy of the survey, you can the Parks office at 715-421-8422.  This survey, along with future public comment sessions, will be used in determining recommendations detailed in the final plan.