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Parks Home
Reservations
Astico Park
Derge Park
Harnischfeger Park
Ledge Park
Nitschke Mounds Park
Wild Goose State Trail
Canoeing
Snowmobile Trail
ATV Trail
Land Resources & Parks
Contact Us |
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What's Up in the
Parks and the Wild Goose State Trail...
As of
08/18/2010 |
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Astico Park |
Derge Park |
Harnischfeger Park |
Ledge Park |
Nitschke Mounds Park |
Wild Goose State Trail |
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Questions, comments or to report additional
information, please contact the Dodge County Land Resources and
Parks Department at (920) 386-3700 x1 or Email:
parks@co.dodge.wi.us |
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 FIREWOOD
BAN CONTINUES AT ALL PARKS: Due to the
Emerald Ash Borer concern,
NO FIREWOOD may be brought into
the Dodge County Parks. Park firewood is available for purchase
from staff or volunteer camp hosts ($4 per bundle – 8 pieces).
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Go for a walk
Psychology Today Share
Your mother is right; you should go take a
walk. Environmental psychology research has identified a slew of
reasons why your mother’s suggestion is a good one — and all the
psychological benefits of a walk complement the physical pluses of
burning off a few calories, toning your muscles and absorbing some
vitamin D on outdoor walks.
More
If you hide it, they will come
Winnipeg Free Press Share
John White wrote in The Winnipeg Free Press,
"Geocaching combines the thrill of a treasure hunt with the geek
appeal of high-tech gadgets. I glance at my GPS to make sure I'm on
target as I trek through dense bush towards the treasure. Following
the longitude and latitude co-ordinates loaded on my GPS, I get
closer to the goal: 30 meters, 20 meters, 10 meters. My pace
quickens. I follow the directional arrow until it leads me to a
group of thick trees in the middle of nowhere."
More
Check
out
www.geocaching.com to get info on
caches in the Dodge County Parks.
Just type in the park’s zip code or the park name
as a Keyword and look for the listings.
Astico Park
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Description of Park
Three open air picnic
shelters are available for rental for your group outing: graduation
party, family reunion, company picnic, church gathering, etc. Call
the Parks Central Office for reservations. Two Camp hosts are
available to assist campers and visitors when staff is unavailable.
Marlene is on the designated camp host site adjacent to the park
office and Kevin and Evelyn are on site 13 near the canoe launch.
Access to the historic bridge parking area, bridge and trails off
Hwy T is available from 7am-8:30pm.
Trails and Roads:
Open
Camping:
Campsites are available for reservations or
drive-in occupancy.
Get your reservations in now for Labor
Day Weekend, it will get here before you know it.
River:
Canoe and kayak rentals are available, pending
water conditions.
Call the Parks office to make rental
reservations.
Events:
Columbus
has a new Farmers Market at the old police station parking lot on
Wednesdays
3pm-7pm.
There is also a Farmers market on
Sundays til
1 pm
at Julie’s Java House.
Miscellaneous:
The Shelters are available for rental for your
group outing: graduation party, family reunion, company picnic,
church gathering, etc.
Call the parks central office for
reservations.
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Derge Park -
Description of Park
Derge Park is a favorite destination
for those looking for a more peaceful camping experience. All
campsites have electrical hookups available. Dick and Sandy are
your volunteer Camp Hosts this year residing on
site #1. They will be around this summer to assist campers and park
visitors. Asphalt paths connect the main facilities in the park,
making it easier for those with walking difficulties. Two boat
launch pads with a fixed dock and a floating pier extension provide
boat access to the 6,600 acre Beaver
Dam Lake.
An enclosed Quonset shelter is available for your group outing. A
small open air picnic shelter is also available. Call the Parks
Central Office for reservations.
MANDATORY BOAT LAUNCH FEES ARE IN EFFECT - BUY YOUR
BOAT LAUNCH PERMITS AT DERGE PARK.
Daily permits ($5) or annual permits ($30) available at the
self-registration box adjacent to the boat launch. Launch permits
are valid for City of Beaver Dam launches and Derge
Park launch. Vehicles with
trailers parked without a valid launch permit are subject to
citation. A portion of launch fees paid at Derge
Park stay with Derge
Park for
shoreline improvements the remainder of fees are used for lake
improvement projects.
Trails and
Roads:
Open
Camping:
Plan ahead for the Labor Day Holiday weekend,
only a few sites remain available.
Lake:
No update.
Events:
No update.
Miscellaneous:
Pedal boat rentals are on their way!
They will be operational by Labor Day
weekend.
Stay tuned for further details and
updates.
Mosquito numbers and tenacity has decreased in recent weeks in the
park.
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Harnischfeger Park -
Description of Park
Trails and
Roads:
The primary boardwalk structure
to the river is now complete!
The fishing and viewing platforms at the
river’s edge provide a new spot to fish from or a peaceful place to
just enjoy the view.
A big THANK YOU goes out to the
volunteers, staff and others that contributed to making this awesome
new facility a reality!
BOARDWALK
DEDICATION: Thursday, September 9th
at
6pm.
Camping:
Call the Parks Central Office at
920-386-3700 x 1 for reservations.
The Camp host is on site #4 to assist
campers and visitors when staff is unavailable.
A couple campsites are still available
for the Labor Day Holiday weekend – plan ahead.
Many weekends through the rest of the
summer are already fully booked.
River:
Call the Parks Central Office to make your canoe and kayak rental
reservations.
Pedal boat rentals now available on a
first-come, first-served basis, pending water conditions.
Events:
Mark your calendar for the 5th
annual Fallfest event at
Harnischfeger
Park,
Saturday, October 2nd
(always the 1st
Saturday in October).
Tractor wagon rides, entertainment,
pancake breakfast, kids activities, buckskinner and civil war
encampments, antique tractors and more.
Miscellaneous:
Get your end of the season 2010
clubhouse reservations in soon. Only a couple weekend dates remain
available prior to mid October. Call
to get a remaining weekend date or take advantage of special weekday
rates now available. Reservations
can be made up to 1 year in advance so 2011 reservations are being
taken as well. |
Ledge Park -
Description of Park
2010
is the Year of The NIAGARA ESCARPMENT. Kids can get a “passport” to
visit and learn about Escarpment places in Wisconsin, such as Ledge
Park. Visit
www.fdlaudubon.org for more information.
A FARM MARKET is
held at Kiwanis Park in Horicon every Wednesday (4pm-8pm) and
Saturday (8am-noon) through November 2nd. You’ll find
locally grown vegetables and produce, honey, fresh breads, fresh cut
flowers, handmade soaps, local artists, crafters, and more!
Trails and Roads:
Open – no problems reported.
Camping:
Get your
reservations in now for the Labor Day holiday weekend – a few sites
still remain available.
Call
the Parks Central Office at 920-386-3700 x 1 for reservations.
Events:
Dodge County Fair -
August 18 to 22, 2010
Miscellaneous:
Rentals for the upper shelter are still available.
Call
the Parks Central Office at 920-386-3700 x 1 to make your
reservation.
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Nitschke Mounds Park
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Description of Park
The mounds were originally built in a prairie and oak savanna
setting about 1000 years ago. The 1927 archeology expedition by
W.C. McKern resulted in the mapping and identification of 62
mounds. Forty-six (46) of the mounds were identified on the north
side of Hwy E, on what is now the park property. The other 16 were
identified on the south side of Hwy E. All of the mounds on the
south side of Hwy E and 7 mounds on the north side have been surface
destroyed, leaving 39 mounds available for viewing in the park.
The park is currently
undergoing a transformation from pastured woodland back to its
historical prairie and oak savanna setting. Crews have been and
will continue to work on the tree removals and brush clearing which
may create scattering of brush piles, cut logs, burn areas, etc.
The park remains open during this process and every effort is being
made to keep all trails open during these work periods.
Trails and Roads:
The
park is open from dawn to dusk.
All trails are open.
The
vegetation growth continues on a furious pace and has overgrown many
of the mounds at this time.
Best mound viewing is in late fall
through early summer.
Events:
Mark your
calendar for the 1st
weekend in May 2011 (May 7-8) for next year’s public archeology
weekend.
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Wild Goose State Trail
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Description of Trail
Due to the 20
mile length of the trail, it is difficult for staff to monitor every
section on a weekly basis. Watch for tree and branch obstructions
and gopher holes that can pop up most anywhere. If you observe a
tree down across the trail, gopher holes in the trail, or other
obstructions or concerns, please report the location or issue to the
parks office at 920-386-3702 or email;
parks@co.dodge.wi.us
Trails:
Recent brushing efforts in the middle to southern sections of the
trail has helped to cut back some of the side growth.
More work is needed and planned.
Some sections may still be muddy.
Parking Areas:
Designated parking areas on Hwy 60, at Hwy 26/Hwy 33, Minnesota
Junction and
East Waupun
are open.
The parking area / trailhead at Hwy 60
was expanded in size late last fall to better accommodate trail
users with trailers (equestrians, snowmobilers, winter ATV users).
Camping:
Bike-in & Hike-in camping is available in the City of
Juneau
at the Wild Goose Park.
Contact the City of
Juneau
at (920) 386-4800 for more information.
Events:
The Juneau Farmers' Market is held every Friday morning from May 1
through October 31 in downtown
Juneau,
about 3 blocks west of the Wild Goose Trail.
Items for sale can include flowers and
plants, vegetables, berries and other fruits, baked items and
crafts.
Misc:
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