Town Of Washington Seeks Grant For Acquisition Of Land

TOWN OF WASHINGTON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces that the Town of Washington has applied for a 25% matching grant as part of the Urban Green Space subprogram of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The grant will assist with purchasing 21 acres of land in the Town of Washington in Door County.

The Town of Washington plans to acquire the approximately 21 acres to develop additional public park space on Lake Michigan. The Town also plans to develop the site for the passive recreational uses of hiking/biking trails, open green space, picnic areas and access to Lake Michigan for fishing, kayaking and beach area. The property includes over 1,000 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan. Recreational activities include fishing, trapping, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

The DNR has examined the property’s locational factors and determined that the prohibition of hunting is necessary to protect public safety because of the parcel’s proximity to residential dwellings and a public roadway.

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. On Stewardship-purchased land, nature-based outdoor activities, such as hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking or cross-country skiing, cannot be prohibited unless the DNR has determined that prohibiting one or more of those activities is justified to protect public safety.

The DNR’s initial assessment of the allowed Nature Based Outdoor Activities (pdf) may be downloaded or from the Stewardship Public Notice Website, or you may request a copy via email at Jessica.Terrien@wisconsin.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the proposed grant. Submit comments by Oct. 27, 2022 to:

Department of Natural Resources
c/o Jessica Terrien
2984 Shawano Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54313
Jessica.Terrien@wisconsin.gov or 920-461-2680

In accordance with s. NR 52.04 (2) (b), Wis. Adm. Code, objections about the hunting 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.

Learn more about Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant programs on the Wisconsin DNR website. To sign up for Stewardship Grant project news releases and updates, subscribe online by selecting DNR Stewardship News under the News & Announcements heading.