1. Property stabilization at Indian Lake County Park - building demo
Dane County purchased this 295 acre property in early 2021 and added it to Indian Lake
County Park. The house, barn and smaller outbuildings were removed this spring.
Several area fire departments participated in training exercises in the house before the
final burn. Staff discussed the permitting process, the testing and removal of hazardous
materials, and the recycling process for salvageable building materials.
Dane County Parks has started a property planning process for Indian Lake County Park
and Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area located in the Northwestern part of Dane County,
Wisconsin. The planning process will include inventorying significant cultural, historical
and natural features as well as provide future land management and park development
recommendations through a consensus building process.
G. Reports to Committee
1. Update on access and equity projects
Last fall, the County Board Office contracted with Keen Independent Research to
conduct a program evaluation of equity and access in Dane County Parks and Henry
Vilas Zoo to gain a better understanding of the demographics of who is currently using
our Parks and Zoo, who is not visiting and what the barriers are, and provide
recommendations. Keen Independent has conducted virtual internal stakeholder
interviews and is planning to hold on-site surveys with parks and zoo users on June 3, 4
and 5 at Law Park, Indian Lake County Park, the Henry Vilas Zoo, WG Lunney Lake
Farm Park, and the Lower Yahara River Trail.
Madison Metro Transit is going through a route update. In our analysis of Dane County
Park access, we found the following regarding the redesign: Access to Mendota County
Park remains the same. Access to Cherokee Marsh and the Ice Age Junction is
somewhat improved with closer proximity, but still some distance away, and only during
peak hours for Cherokee. Access to Lake View Hill park is somewhat reduced. Access
to the Jenny and Kyle Preserve which explicitly serves youth and people with disabilities
has been removed. The disconnect of this important park should be reconsidered.
Access to Tenney Park Lock and Dam has also been removed with no direct service.
Dane County Parks is working with the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter and YWCA to put
together a pilot shuttle service that will include WG Lunney Lake Farm Park, the Alliant
Energy Center and the Henry Vilas Zoo.
H. Future Meeting Items and Dates
May 16 - Indian Lake Property Plan PIM at the Heritage Center / hybrid virtual
May 19 - Anderson Dog Park Ribbon Cutting
May 25 - Park Commission Meeting at Walking Iron County Park (Beckman Rd
entrance)
May 27 - Waakikizu Natural Resource Area Renaming Press Event with Waunakee
Middle School
June 6 - Indian Lake Property Plan PIM at the Town of Berry Town Hall Shelter
June 8 - Park Commission Meeting at the Heritage Center / hybrid virtual
I. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda