Local foundations fund project that gives hikers access to both sides of river
By Kellen Olshefski
Staff Writer
The recent completion of two new bridges at Walworth County’s White River County Park has opened up a whole new section of the park to visitors.
The park, found just outside of Lyons and Lake Geneva at 6503 N. Sheridan Springs Road, was purchased from Duane Clark for $1.91 million about two years ago – $1 million of which was covered through a state grant – and is comprised of nearly 200-acres on both sides of the river.
With the help of two generous donations from the Wagner, Essman and O’Neill Family foundations through the Geneva Lake Conservancy, totaling $130,000, the county has constructed two bridges for the use of patrons, allowing them access to the once difficult to reach property to the south of the river.
Don Howell, a member of the Friends of the White River Park, said construction on the bridges occurred over the past month or so, with the bridges being completed recently.
Howell said the first bridge is really an impressive feat, covering a long entry to the bridge – similar to a gangway – with the bridge over the bridge only making up about a quarter of the full bridge. Additionally, Howell said the bridges had to be built up high enough to allow for kayaks to make it under them in high water.
Howell said the bridges have opened up a whole new section of the park, giving visitors an opportunity to see the park in a whole new light.
Former Walworth County Director of Central Services Kevin Brunner said previously about 70 percent of the park is uplands, with the final 30 percent consisting of wooded lowlands along the river.
Howell said there are now hiking trails on both sides of the river, allowing visitors to hike up to high point overlooking the river.
Howell, who has avidly paddled the White River for many years, said he’s never truly experienced it before.
“I was always so intent of the fast rapids and turns that I never wanted to look up,” he said. “I just didn’t know what was there until I had a chance to get back there.”
Howell – who hiked across the ice to the south side of the river last year for the first time – said the south side of the park features beautiful trees, higher elevations and plenty of evidence of wildlife, something he hopes the snow will continue to reveal for this weekend’s nature hike sponsored by the Friends of White River Park. Howell said benches overlook the river and it’s truly a beautiful sight.
“It’s really a wonderful experience,” he said. “This has been my playground for 35 years. I’ve been paddling that river since 1980 and now I get to enjoy the land on both sides of the river.”
In addition to the two new bridges, Walworth County has also put in a place for patrons to launch kayaks and canoes at the park, including slabs to make it easier for paddlers to get in and out of their kayaks and canoes.
Future of the park
Howell said there are hopes for quite a few more improvements to the park over the next few years.
First and foremost, Howell said the plan is to have a pavilion put in sometime this spring at the park, featuring running water.
“It’ll be pretty nice,” he said. “People will be able to go out there and have picnics.”
Howell said a design for the barn which stands on the property is in the works and the hope is to refurbish the barn for future use, something that could cost somewhere between $200,000 and $750,000. He said the group is currently working on fundraising and applying for grants for the project, which could have many uses upon completion such as events, like the large area dances the property used to host in the past.
While people are already sledding at the park, Howell said the plan is to make it even better for potential sledders.
Furthermore, Howell said the plan is to restore the natural prairie, eliminating invasive species that have made their way on to the property over the years, and in turn also expand the hiking trails at the park to feature about 5-miles of hiking trails.
Howell said there’s a lot of groups involved in bettering the park, including the Geneva Lake Conservancy, the friends group and the Lake Geneva Garden Club, which is looking to put in some gardening near the parking lot and maybe even a butterfly garden.
“There’s a lot of thought going into making this a great park,” he said.
-
-
-
-
-