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 22, 2026  
5:30 PM  
Springfield Hill Natural Resource Area  
8193 Ballweg Rd, Dane  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission Meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Laura Hicklin, Sharene Smith, Joleen Stinson.  
5 -  
Present:  
STEFANIE BROUWER, TOM THORESEN, KRISTIE GOFORTH, DON POSTLER  
and JASMINE BANKS  
2 - ANALIESE EICHER and JENNIFER MARQUARDT  
Excused:  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the July 8, 2026 Park Commission  
2026  
MIN-165  
Attachments: 2026 MIN-165 Park Commission Minutes 07-08-2026  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BANKS, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
AUTHORIZING SALE OF EASEMENT AT BABCOCK COUNTY PARK TO  
VILLAGE OF MCFARLAND  
2026  
RES-091  
MARREN and ENGELBERGER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2027 RES-091  
2026 RES-091 FISCAL NOTE  
2026 RES-091 MAP  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Resolution  
be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
AUTHORIZING A LAND ACQUISITION FOR ANDERSON FARM COUNTY  
PARK  
2026  
RES-092  
BOLLIG, BLAZEWICZ, ENGELBERGER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2026 RES-092  
2026 RES-092 FISCAL NOTE  
2026 RES-092 AREA MAP  
2026 RES-092 SUBJECT MAP  
A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by BROUWER, that the Resolution  
be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action  
E. Presentations  
1. History of Springfield Hill Natural Resource Area  
The 198-acre property was acquired in 2002 for the Ice Age National Scenic  
Trail (IAT) and contains a 1.6-mile IAT loop. Initial restoration efforts on the  
portion of the property east of Ballweg Road included construction of a wildlife  
scrape (shallow pond), prairie restoration, and trail/boardwalk construction. In  
2024, a dilapidated cabin was removed following concurrence from the State  
Historic Preservation Office. This spring, approximately 6 acres of former  
agricultural land west of Ballweg Road were planted with approximately 1,000  
hardwood tree seedlings and native shrubs per acre as part of a new forest  
restoration initiative. This is the first project of its kind undertaken by Dane  
County Parks and is being evaluated as a model for future forest restoration  
projects. The property is included in the Limited Access Archery Program.  
Applications will be accepted until August 10, with permits awarded via random  
drawing.  
F. Reports to Committee  
1. Foundation for Dane County Parks Event  
Celebrating Community in Dane County Parks  
With Special Remembrance of Bill Lunney  
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 4 - 6 PM  
Heritage Center Solar Shelter  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, August 26, 2026  
LaFollette County Park Shelter  
2195 Williams Dr, Stoughton  
2. Wednesday, September 23, 2026  
Indian Lake County Park Shelter  
8183 State Highway 19, Cross Plains  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
J. Adjourn  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by BROUWER, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:10 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.