Long Range Property Plan Updates for Mar 15th

The contract with Somerville Architects Engineers and Construction Services has been signed and we are off and running. To date we have toured all the properties with Melanie Parma, Architect and Project Manager and Melissa Kluck, Landscape Design. The program folks have also contributed a wealth of information for Melanie and Melissa to digest in addition to all the information from the market research and program vision phase of the LRPP. We are all very excited about the next phase of our project. We will be reporting our progress at the annual meeting, May 19. And, this will by no means be the end of the process. Staff, donors and volunteers will all have a chance to share as we move forward.

Divestiture Updates:

Birch Trails Acreage: Sold*

Blueberry Knoll: Sold

Cuesta Acreage: We have been working the past several months with the Door County Land Trust (DCLT). The DCLT is a completely local, non-governmental, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to permanently protect lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County. The DCLT has secured the grant funding necessary to acquire 32 acres of camp Cuesta. This acquisition will protect adult Hine’s emerald dragonfly that forage on the tract, the water quality of Peil Creek and Kangaroo Lake and it borders 550 acres protected by the Door County Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy. This area’s landscape of high quality upland forests, dolomite outcrops, wetlands and lowland forest communities supports a host of rare plants and animal species; including Hines’ emerald dragonfly, bald eagles, osprey, Caspian terns, dorsa’s copper butterfly and showy lady slipper orchids. In addition, the contiguous forests and high quality waters of Peil Creek and Kangaroo Lake support a diverse fishery and provide habitat for a host of migratory and resident birds. We are very excited to be working with the DCLT to support our program vision and, at the same time aiding the DCLT in forwarding their mission.

Del O’ Claire: Listing pending

Hy Da Way: Sold

Ishnala: Sold

Nawakwa Acreage: We have been working with the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) and Chippewa County on an easement to protect the property we intend to sell to Chippewa County. The purpose of this Easement is to retain the natural, scenic, forested and open space values of the property, to allow public access onto the existing Ice Age Trail system and to prohibit any use of the property that will significantly impair or interfere with its conservation values. The property shall be used only for conservation, educational, recreation, and forestry purposes. The conservation easement will consist of two zones to establish certain uses and management conditions within those areas. There is a “Lake Protection Zone” within 100 feet of the ordinary high water mark of Picnic Lake, and a “Conservation Zone”. The easement will preserve the lake front, the health of the forest and limit the use of the property by the public, to non-motorized recreational use only.

Pow Low Acreage: Sold

Sacajawea Acreage: Listing expired. The Adhoc property committee has decided to wait until the completion of the Master Plan. Working with the Land Use Planner/ Architect, together we will determine how best to proceed with the sale of a portion of the property.

*For properties with acreage listed, we will not sell acreage that will negatively impact our program or our property.

Repurposing Updates:

Wisconsin Rapids Service Center – We have developed a program vision with a focus on Environmental Studies. We have begun the transition the current Service Center to a Program Center. The new space will be ready to accommodate troop meetings in March and troops overnight by April 1. The Program Center will also be used as the day camp office/store.

Green Bay Service Center – We have developed a program vision for the Green Bay area with a focus on STEM. We are currently looking for collaborative opportunities within the Green Bay area to deliver this programming. Any gaps in delivery will be taken into consideration when determining the remodel of the existing service center or the building/leasing of an alternative space. Meanwhile, we are expanding the existing retail which will be completed by April 1, 2012.

We value your feedback. Please continue to send your questions to meetinggirlsneeds@gsnwgl.org