Village Center Revitalization

With a population of just over 200, the Village of Rockdale in eastern Dane County ranks as one of the smallest incorporated municipalities in Wisconsin. Rockdale was among the early Dane County settlements that formed around water powered mills. In 1846 Nathan G. Van Horn constructed a dam across the Koshkonong Creek, and constructed a saw, grist and carding mill the following year.

Rockdale Village Center 1999

Attracted by the mill, a village downtown developed for commerce and living. However, the railroads that spurred growth of many communities in Dane County in the late 19th century, bypassed Rockdale. The mill remained in operation until 1940 but, as commerce migrated first to railroad depots, and then to highway intersections, the village remained small and the downtown declined.

By the 1990s, the dam and mill had seriously deteriorated. With owners unable to find funding for reconstruction, the dam was slated for removal to allow the Koshkonong to return to a free flowing creek.

In 1999 the Village received a BUILD grant of $8,600 to develop a plan for addressing dam removal and revitalizing their village center. Removal of the dam would also eliminate the millpond that was a key feature of the village, both physically and psychologically, since its inception. On the plus side, however, plans also called to extend the County's Cam-Rock park south, into Rockdale, to absorb the new land exposed by draining the mill pond.

Former mill pond, now Koshkonong River

The challenge facing Village residents during the planning process, was to think of the the new creek and surrounding land as an asset, instead of a liability. During the process, residents developed a plan to reposition the village as a gateway into the enlarged Cam-Rock park. The mill site was seen as a redevelopment opportunity around the gateway theme, focusing on cultural and natural history, and recreation tied to new trails through the park linking Rockdale with the Village of Cambridge, three miles to the north at the other end of the park. Dane County Parks Department also contributed significantly to the planning effort.
 

The BUILD-funded plan also addressed traffic concerns in the village center caused by the geometrics of County Trunk Highway B as it curved through the village. New roadway and intersection alignments, and new sidewalks in the plan would increase safety for pedestrians. The new alignments also allowed creation of new green space in the village center. A second BUILD grant in 2001, for $8,700, paid for half of engineering and architectural work needed to create construction drawings, and to assess the integrity of the mill properties.

County Trunk Highway B intersection realignment

As a result of the focus on the village center, and new enthusiasm for realizing new possibilities, a group Friends of the Rockdale Mill was established. The Friends group raises money for preservation of the original mill building, assists with work at the mill, and coordinates with Dane County Parks on the preservation and redevelopment of the mill properties. As the Koshkonong Creek re-establishes a permanent channel, trails will be extended through the park connecting the mill property in Rockdale with the rest of the park and with the Village of Cambridge. Joint efforts are also underway between Cambridge and Rockdale to market the area using the natural amenities as a draw.
 

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Last Modified: August 31st, 2004