April 10, 2023 at 11:56 a.m.

Oneida County forestry committee hears update from Friends of Town Line Lake Park

Pier/kayak launch to be installed

By Beckie [email protected]

Two years ago, when Oneida County proposed selling a portion of Town Line Lake Park to offset a 231-acre land purchase known as the Gillette-Wickham property in Enterprise, a group of concerned citizens banded together into a group now known as the Friends of Town Line Lake Park. Since then the group has worked to not only restore the park but make improvements and draw attention to this gem tucked away on Townline Lake just west of Rhinelander.

An update regarding the ongoing work at the park was presented to the Oneida County forestry committee during its April 5 meeting. The report stated the group's first membership meeting was held on March 30, in order to share the progress that had been made and to elect a board of directors.

The friends group was able to raise the funds needed to purchase the ADA-compliant pier and kayak launch, according to the memo the committee reviewed.

The cost of this was $35,000, Oneida County forester Paul Fiene said. He stated that he met with Dave Walters and Tracy Beckman of the Friends group to discuss the installation of the pier. He said Walters and Beckman would be contacting the DNR to determine if any permits would be needed in order to install that pier. No permits would be needed at the county level for that work. Once the snow melts, Fiene said he would be on-site to look at the physical location where the pier will be installed, which would be just east of the beach. The group is also planning for a crushed granite access path leading to this area, utilizing some of the extra funds they were able to raise.

"It's kind of a neat looking thing," Fiene said of the ADA-compliant pier and kayak launch. "It's for a lift for handicapped people. You can kayak or canoe up into it and you can crank them up or they can slide up onto a bench or onto a chair so, yeah, I've never seen one in person before. I've just seen the schematic for it. It looks like quite the deal."

He said the pier and launch would make a nice addition to the park and lake. Another donated wooden pier, will be installed down in the park proper, he added.

The report given to the committee stated Town Line Lake Park is also included in the City of Rhinelander's Comprehensive Outdoor Plan, which is currently under development.

The group was also hoping to hear if the public wished to see more amenities in the forest budget for the park. They stated they have shared the link to the five-year recreation plan survey on their social media and with other interested parties.

The memo also informed the committee about events planned for 2023 by the Friends of Town Line Lake Park.



There will be three events, according to the memo.

The first will be the third annual Father's Day Fishing event in June. The group is also planning a beach party fundraiser for July or August. The final event planned for the year will be the Music in the Bowl, which is planned for early fall.

The memo stated the group is eager to see the snow melt in order for volunteers to get out and ensure the park is a welcoming place for all.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].

Comments:

You must login to comment.

Sign in
RHINELANDER

WEATHER SPONSORED BY

Latest News

Events

April

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
30 31 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 1 2 3

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.