Dane County Plans “World Class” Skills Park and Other Bike Infrastructure Projects

by Johan Barreiro Adams, age 15

Several new bike trails and a “world class” skills park in Middleton are part of a plan announced recently by Dane County officials. Local and private funders matched S770,00 in grants awarded by Dane County.

“During the pandemic the importance of access to safe biking opportunities has become more important than ever,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “They provide a safe way to get outside, to get to a destination, to exercise or just have fun.”

Parisi said the five bike infrastructure projects will enhance quality of life and create new opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city of Madison also received a grant to help build a pump track, which will be located in Aldo Leopold Park. Other parts of the plan include connecting existing multi-use trails in Cross Plains and Cottage Grove and building new off-road trails in Madison, Middleton and Verona.

A $150,000 grant to the nonprofit Capital Off Road Pathfinders will help fund the skills park in Middleton. The nonprofit organization has in the past relied primarily on small donations and volunteer labor to build and maintain local bike trails.

There are over 100 miles of bike trails located in Dane County, including Mountain biking opportunities and hard surface trails. More information and a Bicycle Wayfinding manual are available on the Dane County Parks website.

[Sources: Madison.com ; Wisconsin State Journal; Dane County Parks ]