Planning & Development

On this page you'll find a number of links to plans and reports. If you have any questions or comments, we encourage you to get in touch with us. Note that the Parks and Open Space Plan (see below) includes a link to an on-line feedback form.

• Parks and Open Space Plan
• Project Plans (Final & Draft)
• Master Plans
• Trail Plans (Final & Draft)
• Park Development Projects

Parks and Open Space Plan

The primary purpose for completing a parks and open space plan is to identify the recreation and park land needs for the County for a five year time frame. In addition, the plan must be updated every five years in order to be eligible to apply for Department of Natural Resources State Stewardship funds.

Dane County Parks works closely with the DNR, local units of government, non-profit organizations and County residents to prepare this plan through a comprehensive public process.

• 2006-2011 Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan (Report only) (4.9 MB PDF)
• 2006-2011 Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan Map (1.2 MB PDF)
• 2006-2011 Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan Regional Trail Map (986 KB PDF)

Project Plans (Final & Draft)

Project plans may be prepared for Natural Resource Site study areas identified in the Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan to help identify significant cultural, natural, and historic resources. All plans follow an intensive consensus building public participation process before being finalized.

Please see page 23 of the 2001-2005 Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan for a more detailed description of the Natural Resource Sites.

• Patrick Marsh Project Plan (130 KB PDF)
• Black Earth Creek Project Plan
  Text-only version (587 KB PDF)
  Complete version (38 MB PDF)

Master Plans

Master plans for parks are completed to guide the development of park facilities and to provide the vision for any future expansion. Master Plans are not detailed construction documents, so additional plans and specifications must be created prior to implementing the Master Plan recommendations. All plans follow an intensive consensus building public participation process before being finalized.

Draft Master Plans

Token Creek County Park and Natural Resource Area Master Plan

A public information meeting to review draft master plan alternatives for the park and natural resource area was held on Thursday, March 25th, 7:00pm at the Windsor Town Hall, 4084 Mueller Road, DeForest, WI 53532.

Comments on the draft plans will be accepted through April 25th, 2010. Please email comments to james@co.dane.wi.us, or mail them to Chris James, Dane County Parks, 1 Fen Oak Ct., Room 234, Madison, WI 53718. You may also contact Mr. James directly by phone at 608-224-3763.

March 2010 Draft Master Plans for Review:

• Token Creek Natural Resource Area Draft Master Plan (281 KB PDF document)
• Token Creek Master Plan Draft Alternative 1 (224 KB PDF document)
• Token Creek Master Plan Draft Alternative 2 (940 KB PDF document)

For further information about the master plan, please contact Chris James, Park Planner at 608-224-3763.

Capital Springs State Recreation Area Master Plan

A resolution to adopt the preferred alternative master plan will be introduced to the Dane County Park Commission on Wednesday, May 12th, please watch the County website for additional meeting details. If approved by the Park Commission, the resolution will be introduced to the County Board on Thursday, May 20th and referred to committees for approval. The plan is anticipated to be considered for adoption by the County Board on Thursday, June 17th, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board on Wednesday, June 23rd.

For further information, contact Chris James, Park Planner, 608-224-3763.

• Capital Springs State Recreational Area Master Plan (783 KB PDF document)
• Map 1.1 Existing and Proposed Facilities (515 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.1 All Recreation Units (289 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.2 E-Way Unit (291 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.3 E-Way Unit Existing and Proposed Facilities (2.45 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.4 Jenni and Kyle Preserve Unit (292 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.5 Jenni and Kyle Preserve Unit Existing and Proposed Facilities (3.13 MB PDF document)
• Map 2.6 MMSD Wildlife Observation Unit (292 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.7 MMSD Wildlife Observation Unit Existing and Proposed Facilities (987 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.8 Monona Wetland Conservancy Unit (293 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.9 Monona Wetland Conservancy Unit Existing and Proposed Facilities (1.53 MB PDF document)
• Map 2.10 Nevin Springs Unit Management Zones (2.11 MB PDF document)
• Map 2.11 Nevin Springs Unit (291 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.12 Nevin Springs Unit Existing and Proposed Facilities (1.86 MB PDF document)
• Map 2.13 Upper Mud Lake Unit (291 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.14 Upper Mud Lake Unit Existing and Proposed Facilities (1.30 MB PDF document)
• Map 2.15 Capital Springs State Park & Lake Farm County Park Units (295 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.16 State & County Park Units Existing and Proposed Facilities (246 KB PDF document)
• Map 2.17 Proposed Hunting Zones (319 KB PDF document)

Black Earth Creek Natural Resource Area Property Master Plan

Planning staff is working together with a stakeholder team and consulting firm LanDesign to prepare a master plan for a 292-acre property (former Sunnyside Seed Farm) within the Black Earth Creek Natural Resource Area. The property is located near the intersection of Hwy 14 and Twin Valley Road in the Town of Middleton.

March 16^th, 2010 Public Input Meeting Documents

• Power Point Presentation (8.4 MB PDF document)
• Public Input Comments (32 KB PDF document)

November 3^rd, 2009 Public Input Meeting Documents

• Power Point Presentation (5.0 MB PDF document)
• Public Input Summary (20 KB PDF document)

For further information about the master plan, please contact Sara Kwitek, Acquisition and Planning Specialist at 224-3611.

Adopted Master Plans

Badger Prairie County Park Master Plan

• Badger Prairie Park Master Plan Report (11.8 MB PDF document)

Cam-Rock Park Master Plan

• Cam-Rock Park Master Plan Report (593 KB PDF document)
  • Appendix 3 – Mill Site Section View
  • Appendix 4 – Trail Greenway
• Cam-Rock Park Master Plan (1.5 MB PDF document)
• Mill Site

Donald Park Master Plan

• Donald Park Master Plan (Text-only version. 300 KB PDF document)
  Posted March 23, 2006.
• Donald Park Master Plan (Complete report. 5.5 MB PDF document)
  Posted March 23, 2006.
   

Lake View Hill Park Master Plan

• Lake View Hill Park Master Plan (Complete report. 5.97 MB PDF document)

Schumacher Farm Park Master Plan

• Schumacher Farm Master Plan Report (3 MB PDF document)
• Schumacher Farm Master Plan

Scheidegger County Forest Master Plan

• Scheidegger County Forest Master Plan Report (4.2 MB PDF document)

Trail Plans (Final & Draft)

Dane County Parks partners with the State Department of Natural Resources and local units of government to plan and construct many miles of trails within the County.

Phase One Lower Yahara River Trail Planning

Dane County is working together with a stakeholder team and consulting firm Graef to prepare construction drawings and estimates for a multi use trail that would extend from the Capital City Trail at Lake Farm County Park to McDaniel Park in the Village of McFarland. The trail would be a combination of paved surface and boardwalk with several designated shore fishing stations. For further information about the trail, please contact Chris James, Dane County Parks Division at 608-224-3763.

• Presentation - 6/17/09 Public Meeting

Park Development Projects

Dane County Parks staff work on a variety of park development projects throughout the season. Projects include picnic shelters, bicycle trails, boat ramps, fishing piers, playgrounds, shoreline stabilization, and kiosks to name a few. Pictured to the right is the construction of one of Dane County's shelters.