Business

Million-dollar state grant headed toward nature trail project east of La Crosse

Published

5 months ago

May 10, 2024

A nature trail project near La Crosse is getting just over a million dollars in state money.

The legislature and the Wisconsin DNR have authorized a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant to the Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA). The local recreation group will use the funding to develop a Community Trail Farm on more than 270 acres of land near Highway 33, in the Town of Shelby.

Area legislators Loren Oldenburg (left) and Brad Pfaff speak at an ORA Trail farm ceremony near La Crosse on Friday

The trail system is designed to connect existing paths used by hikers and bicycles, and provide access to campsites and other attractions.

The ORA plans to allow travelers to use trails that could take them directly from the Holmen area to Goose Island, south of La Crosse. Recreation workers were joined on Friday by area legislators and other community leaders for an announcement about the ORA funding.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.