Dane County Executive Joe Parisi Announces PARC & Ride Bike Trail Grants Totaling Over $482,000 for Municipalities

July 25, 2022
Ariana Vruwink, 608-267-8823
County Executive, Land & Water Resources

Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced awards totaling $482,516 for Dane County PARC and Ride grant recipients. The program provides matching grants to communities interested in expanding trail interconnectivity throughout Dane County. Municipalities were eligible to receive grants matching up to 50 percent of a project’s costs to offset bike trail design, engineering, and construction expenses.

“Dane County has an expansive network of bike trails, and we are always excited to have communities come forward with plans to expand or enhance trails through the PARC & Ride Grant Program,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients. Through these partnerships, we are able to enhance Dane County residents’ quality of life and create new opportunities to explore the outdoors.”

Grants were awarded to capital projects that expanded bike trail interconnectivity, created destination-oriented regional bike trails and skills-building areas such as bicycle parks, playgrounds, and pump tracks, and improved bike safety. Trail projects needed to provide a regional trail connection, as identified in the 2018-2023 Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan and could include associated amenities like trailheads/parking areas, signage, and safety facilities.

These projects were submitted through a 2021 grant application cycle and funds were appropriated in the 2022 County Budget. A resolution to approve these project allocations was introduced at last week’s Dane County Board meeting.

Funded Projects Include:

The Village of Cottage Grove will be awarded $83,991 for its Phase 2 Main Street Path Construction project. This approximately 3,850-foot paved trail will run along Main Street from Northlawn Drive to the existing path just south of I-94, completing the regional multi-use trail connection from the Glacial Drumlin Trail to McCarthy County Park. The total estimated project cost is $594,156. Dane County allocated $213,087 to the Village of Cottage Grove for this trail project during last year’s PARC & Ride grant cycle.

The City of Fitchburg will be awarded $150,000 for its North Fish Hatchery Road Hub project. This bike playground will consist of a pump track, fix-it station, bike racks, and benches at Fitchburg’s future North Fish Hatchery Road Hub, a community/neighborhood gathering space. The total estimated project cost is $450,000.

The City of Madison will be awarded $62,500 for its Shred to School at Aldo Leopold Park project. This approximately 3,500-foot Shred to School trail will be located along the Cannonball Path, consisting of a single track chip seal trail with features like rollers and jumps. The total estimated project cost is $125,000.

The City of Verona will be awarded $186,025 for its Eastside Interceptor Gravity Sewer Trail project. This paved bike path will run from CTH M to Arbor Vitae Place located along the southside of Badger Mill Creek. It will be constructed as part of Verona’s Eastside Interceptor Gravity Sewer project that will ultimately connect to the Military Ridge State Trail and the Ice Age Junction Trail. The total estimated project cost is $372,050.