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, April 26, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Schumacher Farm County Park, Center for Rural  
History, 5682 State Highway 19, Waunakee  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Ripp called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:33 PM.  
Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Chris James, Sharene Smith.  
Youth Governance Member Emily Cai present.  
Friends of Schumacher Farm Members Present: Mark Pelton, Sue Manske, Gary  
Herzberg, Dennis Petzke, Rosa Ropers, Barb Johanningmeier, Nelle Kempfer.  
Others Present: Mike Weber.  
6 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, DAVE RIPP, TOM THORESEN, GRACE  
MORAN and KRISTIE GOFORTH  
1 - ANALIESE EICHER  
Excused:  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the March 22, 2023 Park Commission  
1. 2023  
MIN-010  
Attachments: 2023 MIN-010 PC Minutes 03-22-23  
PC 03-22-23 Registration Report  
A motion was made by MORAN, seconded by BROUWER, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
1. 2023  
RES-036  
AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF LAND FOR WAAKIKIZU NATURAL  
RESOURCE AREA  
CHAWLA, RIPP, SCHAUER, COLLINS, HATCHER, JOERS and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-036  
2023 RES-036 FISCAL NOTE  
2023 RES-036 AREA MAP  
2023 RES-036 SUBJECT MAP  
A motion was made by THORESEN, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
2. 2023  
RES-037  
AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE OF LAND FOR MCCARTHY YOUTH AND  
CONSERVATION COUNTY PARK FROM SCARLET BADGER, LLC  
CHAWLA, RIPP, RATCLIFF, COLLINS, HATCHER, JOERS and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-037  
2023 RES-037 FISCAL NOTE  
2023 RES-037 AREA MAP  
2023 RES-037 SUBJECT MAP  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
3. 2023  
RES-038  
AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE  
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR  
STREAM RESTORATION OF BLACK EARTH CREEK  
CHAWLA, RIPP, COLLINS, HATCHER, HUELSEMANN and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-038  
2023 RES-038 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by THORESEN, seconded by BROUWER, that the Resolution  
be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
4. 2023  
RES-039  
AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE  
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR  
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WAUCHEETA CONNECTOR TRAIL  
CHAWLA, RIPP, MILES, COLLINS, HATCHER, HUELSEMANN and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-039  
2023 RES-039 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
5. 2023  
RES-040  
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF STEWARDSHIP GRANT FUNDING  
FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES  
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE WAUCHEETA CONNECTOR TRAIL  
CHAWLA, RIPP, MILES, COLLINS, HUELSEMANN, HATCHER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2023 RES-040  
RES-040 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
6. 2023  
RES-041  
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF 2023 DONATED FUNDS FROM THE  
FRIENDS OF CAPITAL SPRINGS RECREATION AREA  
CHAWLA, RIPP, COLLINS, HATCHER and RITT  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: RES-041  
RES-041 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by THORESEN, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action  
1. Election of Officers  
CHAIR RIPP opened the floor for officer nominations.  
BROUWER nominated THORESEN for chair. There were no other nominations. A motion  
was made by BROUWER to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for  
THORESEN. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
BROUWER self-nominated for vice-chair. There were no other nominations. A motion  
was made by BOGUE to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for BROUWER.  
The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
GOFORTH self-nominated for second vice-chair. There were no other nominations. A  
motion was made by MORAN to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for  
GOFORTH. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
E. Presentations  
1. Friends of Schumacher Farm Park  
The Friends of Schumacher Farm Park are carrying out Marcella Schumacher's dream of  
using her family’s farmstead as a conservancy and park. The Friends restored the farm  
house to the 1930s era and have established an educational program that represents the  
life of the area’s early settlers. Friends' President Mark Pelton presented on the Friends  
organization, highlighted their annual community events and described their current  
campaign to construct a Machinery Storage and Display Building.  
Friends of Schumacher Farm Presentation April 26, 2023  
2023  
RPT-072  
Attachments: Friends of Schumacher Farm Presentation April 26, 2023  
2. History of Schumacher Farm County Park  
Schumacher Farm County Park is classified as a Historical/Cultural Site. It is a 116-acre  
property that features a prairie restoration, farmstead museum, and the Center for Rural  
History (CRH). Marcella Schumacher Pendall donated the original 40 acres in 1978. The  
park expanded with the purchase of another 78 acres in 2001, which prompted an update  
to the park's master plan in 2005. The CRH was completed in 2020.  
3. Indian Lake County Park and Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area Master Plan Update  
The master plan planning process evaluated existing cultural, natural and historical  
features and incorporated public, stakeholder and staff input. Based on the input, Indian  
Lake County Park/Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area will remain relatively undeveloped, with an  
emphasis on continued large scale prairie and savanna restoration in open areas and  
management of the existing contiguous woodlands that provide exceptional bat habitat.  
Indian Lake County Park is classified as a recreation park, primarily serving users who  
are attracted to outdoor recreation with some expectation of developed access and  
facilities. The master plan's draft executive summary and maps showing two development  
alternatives were presented. The draft master plan presentation will be incorporated at a  
future Park and Open Space Plan public input meeting before the plan is finalized and  
recommended to the Park Commission and the Board of Supervisors for adoption.  
2023  
RPT-073  
Indian Lake County Park & Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area Master Plan  
Summary DRAFT  
Attachments:  
Indian Lake County Park & Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area Master Plan  
Summary DRAFT  
F. Reports to Committee - None  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, May 10 - Hybrid Meeting  
Heritage Center lower level  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison 53711  
2. Wednesday, May 24  
Jenni and Kyle Preserve  
925 Post Rd, Madison, WI 53711  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda - None  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law - None  
J. Adjourn  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
Meeting adjourned 7:08 PM.  
K. Optional - Tour Schumacher Farm County Park with Friends  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.