Today I rode no state trails. But bike infrastructure, land conservancy, and even Knowles-Nelson is about so much more than state trails – today shows us why. I began my day in Fond du Lac on the Old Plank Road Trail, which connects to Fond du Lac’s trail network and extends ~40 miles into Sheboygan, where you connect with Sheboygan’s trails and bike-friendly roads past Kohler-Andre State Park until you access the Sheboygan Interurban Trail in Oostberg (note – the Sheboygan trails website also reminds you that the most efficient form of locomotion in the animal kingdom is a person on a bicycle!).
From there, the Sheboygan Interurban Trail turns into the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, which turns into the Oak Leaf Trail system in Milwaukee. I rode 102 miles today, almost all of which consisted of dedicated bike trail, bike lanes, signed and painted bike streets, or some sort of inclusive bike infrastructure. This is what all of Wisconsin could look like! Where you can ride your bike anywhere and have safe, pleasant, well-marked transit ways to recreate or commute!
Wisconsin Bike Fed and Rails to Trails Conservancy are two fantastic bike advocacy organizations, based in Milwaukee, who are working to make this happen! I’m happy to meet and support these groups this afternoon at the meet and greet and Wheel & Sprocket. Hope to see some of you there!
To learn more about Wisconsin Bike Fed and Rails to Trails, and support their efforts, see here: https://wisconsinbikefed.org/ and here: https://www.railstotrails.org/state/wisconsin/
Riding into Milwaukee, I passed through Ozaukee County, where Restoring Lands is doing some incredible work to protect local forests, prairies, and wetlands. We met up at Bratt Woods, outside Grafton, took some photos and celebrated the Great State Trails Adventure and all we are doing collectively to raise awareness about Knowles-Nelson and the importance of conservation funding for the future of Wisconsin landscapes. It was a great moral boost, and some hearty folks even rode a few miles with me in the rain! During our visit, they shared more with me about that work and how Knowles-Nelson has helped make it possible.
Restoring Lands is a nonprofit land trust with the mission to protect, connect, and restore southeast Wisconsin’s land and water for the benefit of all. Restoring Lands owns and manages 39 public nature preserves, many of which were supported by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. Throughout Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington counties, Restoring Lands provides green spaces for people to enjoy and for wildlife to thrive.
As you can see below, Restoring Lands has protected a series of preserves along the Milwaukee River in northern Ozaukee and Washington counties. These preserves in the Milwaukee River Basin are part of a string of protected natural areas that provide vital connectivity for wildlife habitat and conserve Milwaukee River frontage to improve water quality. Several of these preserves were protected using funding from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, including Decorah Woods, Fellenz Woods, South Oak Preserve, Riverbend Conservancy, and Kratzsch Conservancy.
These five preserves serve as a refuge for sensitive wildlife species. Through Restoring Lands’ wildlife monitoring program, they’ve discovered many endangered species, and work to protect them the best we can. During the time caring for these lands, they have restored large swaths of farmland to prairies and forests. The preserves provide a range of habitat types, including hardwood and lowland forests, prairies, swamps, wetlands, natural springs, and river frontage.
These amazing spaces would not be possible without Knowles-Nelson. Along with supporting wildlife habitat, they offer an opportunity for people to connect with nature, explore trails, and enjoy recreation such as birdwatching, fishing, and hunting.
Restoring Lands is always working to continue their mission, expand preserved lands, and restore open spaces to their natural habitat. There are many upcoming projects to look forward to, including large-scale tree and prairie plantings and new public trails across the three counties.
“Knowles-Nelson isn’t simply about protecting land. It’s about keeping a promise. A promise that the places we cherish today will still be here for future generations. That is a promise worth renewing, and a promise worth defending,” said Tom Stolp, Executive Director of Restoring Lands.
Please consider volunteering with Restoring Lands, visiting the preserves, or donating to the mission at restoringlands.org/donate.
– Sarah
Today at a glance
Explore Nearby
Sheboygan, WI | Managed by: WI DNR
Kohler-Andrae State Park features sand dunes and beaches along Lake Michigan. Knowles-Nelson funding allowed the DNR to acquire and protect the land, and it has also supported many projects led by the Friends of Kohler-Andrae State Park, including a beach parking lot safety path and a new amphitheater.
Mequon, WI | Managed by: City of Mequon
Highland Woods is an 85-acre nature preserve that includes a 1.2-mile stretch along Pigeon Creek for public recreation. Restoring Lands acquired the property and turned it over to the city in 1996 for use as a nature and education area.
Sheboygan, WI | Managed by: Glacial Lakes Conservancy
Willow Creek Preserve spans 143 acres and is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, turtles, and snakes. The land was set aside to help restore natural spaces in the Sheboygan area after years of pollution, and Glacial Lakes Conservancy now cares for it through monitoring and restoration.
