Welcome Summer 2020
Update: Summer 2020
The Town of Boulder Junction is waiting to hear whether the trail project will be selected for either DOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant which funds 80% of project costs and/or a Wisconsin DNR Stewardship grant or Recreation Trails grant which funds up to 50% of project costs. Stay Tuned!
What is the North Creek Loop Trail Project?
The Town of Boulder Junction is sponsoring the construction of 3.3 miles of paved trail that will complete the 14 mile North Creek Trail loop of the Heart of Vilas County Trail system in the Boulder Junction area. The new trail runs from the intersection of County Hwys K and H (where it will connect to the existing bike trail between Boulder Junction and Manitowish Waters) along the east side of Highway H onto North Creek Rd. Trail users will then be able to continue down North Creek Rd to access the existing bike trail along Highway M connecting back to Boulder Junction.
Maintenance of the trail after construction will be conducted by the town as part of the existing town trail system.
North Creek Loop Trail Project Cost & Fundraising
The Boulder Junction Town Board has approved a preliminary trail route mapped by Mark Barden, Town & Country Engineering, in consultation with Craig Dalton, DNR State Forest Property Manager, DNR regulatory staff, and Nick Scholtes, Vilas County Highway Commissioner. The DNR and Vilas County are supportive of the project. Based on the route, Mark Barden has provided a preliminary cost estimate of $875,000 for the project.
A fundraising plan for the project is in progress and has two main components – applying for grants and soliciting pledges and donations in a variety of ways from the greater Boulder Junction community and its visitors.
The Town of Boulder Junction has applied for grants from two competitive government grant programs. They hope to hear if the trail project has been selected for a grant by early this summer. The two grant programs are the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) administered by the Wisconsin DOT which funds 80% of project costs and the Stewardship and Recreational Trails grant programs administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources which fund up to 50% of project costs.
To date the town has received over $47,300 in pledges and donations for the project. Fundraising for the project will continue till project complete, with more specific funding goals being established as participation in grant programs is determined.