Residents Ready to Fight for Rec Trail

After a revision to the recreational trail plan was approved at the Parks Board meeting Monday March 11, some residents are saying not so fast.

The Public Works Committee had the trail plan on its agenda Monday to see how the revised schedule would mesh with planned road projects. The Parks and Recreation board had pushed back a section of trail along North Cape Road (Highway OO) from Durham Drive to Highway 36 to 2019, in order to begin work on a "lake loop" around Little Muskego Lake. The trail, which was slated as the only such project in 2014, would have finished a southern section of trails and connected the recent trail on Durham Drive to another that runs the stretch of Highway 36.

However, District 7 Alderman Eileen Madden told the committee, "I'm totally against this - it's time for District 7 to get taken care of; we've waited long enough, and we need to stick to the plan." She said that after receiving dozens of emails from upset residents, it would be likely that the next Park Board meeting would be "a full house."

Madden said that the district has put up with the Emerald Park landfill, which has brought revenue to the city to enjoy such improvements as parks and trails, but hasn't seen the return from it. She also pointed out newer sections that were not formerly a part of the park's trail plan shouldn't get higher priority.

The "lake loop" had been suggested by Alderman Dan Soltysiak at the Parks Board meeting, and he defended the decision Monday night, stating that the idea was to start developing trails in more densely populated areas. He also said it wasn't a matter of pitting one district against another, and that the proposed change didn't put the concerns of District 7 residents "on the back burner."

However, resident Lisa Duller, who was in attendence, said the trail helps residents connect with the very city they live in, and provides a safe way to do it.

"There are already wide shoulders along OO, and I would think it would be easy to add trails there," Duller said. "I have ridden along that way with my kids, and it's a very busy, very dangerous road. I would like to be able to ride into Muskego, but if you would rather we ride to Wind Lake or elsewhere, we can do that too. I consider our district to be the stepchild of Muskego, and I think this trail shouldn't be put off."

The request to change the rec trail plan was denied by the committee, which sends the matter back to the Parks Board meeting in April.

The current trail plan, including a map of existing trails, is in the Parks and Conservation Plan for 2012-16 (page 58, map 11).