Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Park Commission  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, July 26, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Goodland County Park  
2849 Waubesa Ave, Madison 53711  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Chris James, Sharene Smith.  
6 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, ANALIESE EICHER, DAVE RIPP, TOM  
THORESEN and GRACE MORAN  
1 - KRISTIE GOFORTH  
Excused:  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the June 26, 2023 Park Commission  
2023  
MIN-201  
Attachments: 2023_MIN-201_PC_MINUTES_6-26-23  
A motion was made by RIPP, seconded by MORAN, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
AUTHORIZING A RECREATIONAL TRAIL EASEMENT WITH THE WISCONSIN  
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A BICYCLE  
PEDESTRIAN TRAIL  
1. 2023  
RES-121  
CHAWLA, HATCHER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-121  
2023 RES-121 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BOGUE, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
AUTHORIZING DONATION OF FUNDS FOR AN ACCESSIBLE FISHING PIER  
FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR DANE COUNTY PARKS  
2. 2023  
RES-122  
CHAWLA, RITT, HATCHER and RATCLIFF  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-122  
2023 RES-122 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by EICHER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0.  
AUTHORIZING A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT  
OF TRANSPORTATION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE WALKING IRON  
STATE TRAIL  
3. 2023  
RES-123  
CHAWLA, HATCHER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-123  
2023 RES-123 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by RIPP, seconded by BROUWER, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action - None  
E. Presentations  
1. City of Fitchburg proposed Syene/McCoy intersection reconstruction project  
The City of Fitchburg is planning an intersection reconstruction project at Syene Rd and  
McCoy Blvd to improve vehicle and Capital City Trail road crossing safety. The road  
reconstruction project will affect the location of the Capital City Trail and existing trailhead  
parking lot driveway. Three draft intersection alternatives were first reported to the Park  
Commission at the December 14, 2022 meeting. Staff and the Fitchburg Bicycle  
Advisory Committee both recommended Alternative 3 to minimize the number of times  
the Capital City Trail crossed the parking lot driveway. The City of Fitchburg chose to  
move forward with design alternative 2 based on it being the least expensive to construct.  
Alternative 2 would result in an additional driveway trail crossing that currently does not  
exist. Dane County Parks staff prepared a revised Alternative 2 layout that would re-route  
the Capital City Trail around the north side of the parking lot and eliminate the additional  
proposed driveway crossing. The opinion of probable cost to construct the proposed  
alternative Capital City Trail re-route and pave the trailhead parking lot is approximately  
$250,000-$300,000. The City of Fitchburg has stated there is no additional funding  
available in their budget for the proposed trail and parking lot improvements. Dane  
County Parks Staff will continue to discuss funding alternatives with the City of  
Fitchburg. Staff will provide a future update to the Park Commission as the project  
planning progresses.  
City of Fitchburg proposed Syene/McCoy intersection reconstruction project  
maps  
2023  
RPT-190  
Attachments:  
City of Fitchburg proposed Syene McCoy intersection reconstruction  
project maps  
2. History of Goodland County Park  
Goodland County Park is located on the west shore of Lake Waubesa. The park is 15  
acres with 600 feet of shoreline. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places  
because of the Native American mounds. Facilities include two shelters, volleyball,  
tennis and basketball courts, play equipment, a boat launch and a swimming area with a  
clean beach treatment system. Recent park improvements include court restoration and  
new roofs on both shelters and the storage garage. Goodland County Park is one of  
Dane County's oldest parks, established in 1946. It was named after Governor Walter  
Goodland, who took office in 1943 at the age of 80. Goodland, Babcock and LaFollette  
County Parks were named by school children who voted on names of historic figures.  
F. Reports to Committee  
Supervisor RIPP reported that the Public Works & Transportation Commission approved  
two change orders for park development projects at their July 25, 2023 meeting:  
1. Changing type of erosion control mat used for the spillway at Walking Iron Wildlife  
Area wetland restoration.  
2. Adding additional topsoil at McCarthy Youth and Conservation County Park's new  
shelter and parking lot project.  
BOGUE shared a photo of a sculpture she saw at Mosquito Hill Nature Center that was  
made out of wood from surrounding parkland. Incorporating more public art into the park  
system is a recommendation of the 2018-2023 Parks and Open Space Plan (POSP) and  
will be discussed as part of the upcoming POSP update.  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - Hybrid Meeting  
Heritage Center lower level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
2. Wednesday, August 23, 2023  
Mendota County Park  
5133 County Highway M, Middleton  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
J. Closed Session  
A motion was made by BOGUE, seconded by RIPP, that the Meeting enter into  
closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Vice Chair BROUWER, Supervisor EICHER, Supervisor RIPP, Chair  
THORESEN and MORAN  
1 - Second Vice Chair GOFORTH  
Excused:  
CLOSED SESSION: The Park Commission entered into closed session per Wis. Stat.19.85(1)(e): The  
Commission may go into closed session for the purposes of deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of  
public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever  
competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.  
K. Return to Open Session  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Meeting exit  
out of closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Vice Chair BROUWER, Supervisor EICHER, Supervisor RIPP, Chair  
THORESEN and MORAN  
1 - Second Vice Chair GOFORTH  
Excused:  
L. Adjourn  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:57 PM.  
M. Optional - Tour Goodland County Park swimming area and clean beach treatment system  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.