The public will have an opportunity at a series of upcoming meetings to provide input on two draft chapters of a Department of Natural Resources Recreation Opportunities Analysis and begin the process of examining opportunities in three other regions of Wisconsin,

The Recreation Opportunities Analysis is examining existing outdoor-based recreation opportunities and future recreation opportunities in eight regions throughout Wisconsin.

The initial drafts identify recreation opportunities in the Great Northwest (Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Polk, Barron and Rusk counties) and Upper Lake Michigan Coastal Regions (Marinette, Oconto, Manitowoc, Brown, Kewaunee and Door counties) and the potential role of DNR-managed properties in helping to meet these opportunities.

In August, the department held open house meetings asking for public input about these regions. Feedback was also received through an online public input opportunity that was open in August and early September. Using this input, the department developed a draft chapter for each region describing future needs unique to each part of the state and the potential role DNR-managed properties play in helping to meet those needs.

Comments are welcome on the draft chapters through Oct. 27. Open house meetings are scheduled from 4-7 p.m. in each region where department staff will provide an overview at 5:30 p.m.:

  • Tuesday Oct. 17, De Pere – Brown County Library – Kress Family Branch, 333 North Broadway Street,
  • Wednesday Oct. 18, Rice Lake – City of Rice Lake Building, 30 East Eau Claire St.

Next regions to begin study for Recreation Opportunities Analysis

The next regions to be studied are the Mississippi River Corridor, Western Sands and Lake Winnebago regions. The counties included in these regions are as follows:

  • Mississippi River Corridor: Buffalo, Crawford, Dunn, Grant, La Crosse, Pepin, Pierce, St Croix, Trempealeau, and Vernon
  • Lake Winnebago Waters: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Menominee, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago
  • Western Sands: Adams, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, Marathon, Monroe, Portage, and Wood

The public is invited to participate in this analysis by providing information through the online input opportunities found by searching the DNR website for keyword “ROA.” The public can provide feedback online or print out the questionnaire and send completed forms to the department. Public input opportunities for these three regions are open through Nov. 17.

Later this month, the department will host public open house meetings to gather additional input to the Mississippi River Corridor, Lake Winnebago Waters and Western Sands regions. The open houses will be held from 4-7 p.m. in the following dates and locations:

  • Oct. 23, Altoona – River Prairie Center, 1445 Front Porch Place
  • Oct. 24, Stevens Point – Holiday Inn, 1001 Amber Ave.
  • Oct. 25, Onalaska – Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, 3060 South Kinney Coulee Road
  • Nov. 1, Appleton – Fox Valley Technical College (Bordini Center), 5 Systems Drive

While the ROA process is underway in these counties, additional public meetings in other regions will be held as the process moves forward. The analysis process will generally describe recreation opportunities for each region.

To receive email updates regarding the ROA process, visit dnr.wi.gov and click on the email icon near the bottom of the page titled “subscribe for updates for DNR topics,” then follow the prompts and select “Recreation opportunities analysis,” found within the list titled “outdoor recreation.”

For more information regarding the recreational opportunities analysis, search keyword “ROA.”