BELLEVILLE (WKOW) -- Dane County is investing more than half a million dollars into local recreation areas.
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced grants totaling $603,000 for several communities.
One of the grants will go to Belleville to continue its restoration of Lake Belle View and the Sugar River.
Other projects selected by the county to receive the PARC grants include Black Earth Creek improvements in Cross Plains; the construction of a trail in the Yahara River corridor in DeForest; improvements to cycling access and safety in Fitchburg; construction of phase one of the Lower Yahara River trail in McFarland; and construction of a multi-use path on Main St. in Cottage Grove.
The community of Sun Prairie also applied for a PARC grant for a bike path link between the city and Madison. They have been selected to receive assistance for their project through the Parks - Madison Prairie Development Account.
The Natural Heritage Land Trust was selected to receive funds to hire Operation Fresh Start's youth conservation crew to work on several of the chosen PARC grant projects. The Ice Age Trail Alliance will also receive funds to help that organization develop a new segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and advance ecological restorations along the two currently existing trail segments.
Dane County Parks staff worked with the County Parks Commission to rank all the PARC grant proposals. Grant money will be awarded this summer, pending the Dane County Board's final review of the Parks Commission's funding recommendations.
