City Of Hurley Seeks Grant For Land Acquisition

HURLEY, Wis. – The City of Hurley has applied for a 50% matching grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to assist with the purchase of approximately 30 acres of an abandoned railroad corridor. Most of the property will be developed into an approximately three-mile-long walking and biking trail between the cities of Hurley and Montreal. About .5 miles of the trail is currently motorized and will remain so in the future.

The City of Hurley is working with area partners: the City of Montreal, Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts, Inc. (ICORE), White Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club, the Hurley ATV/UTV Club and the Iron County Forestry Department, to acquire and construct a non-motorized trail that will connect the cities of Hurley and Montreal. The trail will part of a larger multi-state trail system. 

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund was created in 1989 to preserve important natural resources, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation for all Wisconsinites to enjoy.

Stewardship-purchased land cannot prohibit nature-based outdoor activities (hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking or cross-country skiing) unless the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has determined that prohibiting one or more of those activities is justified to protect public safety.

Should this property be acquired as planned, city ordinances will prohibit the discharge of a firearm or bow on the property. The DNR is proposing the prohibition of hunting on this property because it is necessary to protect public safety. The DNR has examined the following factors in making this determination: 

• The property is located within the populated downtown areas of the cities of Hurley and Montreal, where there are commercial and residential developments adjacent to the property.
• The property is long and narrow, offering very limited hunting opportunities, further reduced by the proposed trail development.

View the Public Safety Team Analysis of Nature Based Outdoor Activities on Projects Purchased with Stewardship Grant Funds for the proposed acquisition here. Proposed stewardship grant awards are available here. Hard copies are available upon request. 

The public is encouraged to send written comments on the proposed acquisition via mail to Jeff Pennucci, DNR Regional Project Manager, Northern Region Headquarters, 107 Sutliff Ave., Rhinelander, WI 54501 or email to Jeff.Pennucci@Wisconsin.gov.The deadline for written comments is Dec. 11, 2020.

In accordance with s. NR 52.04 (2) (b), Wis. Adm. Code, objections about the prohibited activities on this property must show the proposed prohibition to be inconsistent with s. 23.0916 (2) (b), Stats., and s. NR 52.05, Wis. Adm. Code.

For more information on the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, visit the DNR website. To receive email notices of Stewardship Grant projects, please subscribe through the DNR website.