IRONWOOD - The Parks and Recreation Committee
met at the Township Offices Wednesday evening to discuss a DNR grant
application for construction of Airport Recreation Park, located on
Airport Road. The meeting was called to hear public comment on the park
plan.
The marathon session lasted well into the evening with the
committee members discussing every aspect of the grant application and the
details of the project itself.
Lilly Palmer, soil scientist at Coleman
Engineering was on hand presenting the proposed plan which includes a
trail system. Under the plan the Airport Recreation Park will be
designated as the trailhead for a comprehensive trail system.
Committee member Brad Noren, a silent sport advocate, told the
committee and Palmer that the plan would have encompass both motorized
sports and non-motorized spots. He used the Berkiebeiner, the largest
American cross country ski race as an example. Brad pointed out that in
the Hayward / Cable area motorized and non-motorized trails coexist
successfully. In fact, Cable/Hayward also host…e host the eight stop of
nine on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series (ACSS) of the
International Series of Champions (ISOC) sanctioned tour.
The proposed Township project appears to
include accommodations for everyone including people with disabilities.
Unlike the City plan the Township has put the plan together quickly and
effectively. Their city cousins have been struggling for two plus years to
put a park plan together and are barely any further along than they were
two years ago.
The only thing remaining for the Township is to finalize the costs of
the project. Last year a similar application was denied by the DNR. The
new proposal will differ in that the Airport Park will serve as a
trailhead, with trail connections to the North Country Trail to the east
and westward to Wisconsin. There will also be consideration for a trail
going south towards US 2 where hiker/bikers could go shopping.
