DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – For a second straight winter, Brown County and multiple municipalities are teaming up to fund plowing the urban section of the Fox River Trail.
Jen Van Den Elzen is with ‘Live54218,’ which advocates for people keeping healthy lifestyles.
“In 2016, in our winter months, January, February, and March, we had 5,378 people out on the trail. In 2017, the first year we had snow removal on the trail, in the same winter months, we had 8,697 people out there, so about a 50-percent increase.”
Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach says local sport and health groups like Live54218 raised concerns about having a place to bike, run, and walk in the winter.
“It allows for individuals, whether they are commuting or just looking to get outside and have a healthy lifestyle, we’re going to make that available.
Streckenbach says the county will contribute the first dollars for snow removal efforts. The proposed 2018 budget calls for $10,641 for snow removal on the trail.
“As long as those dollars are not spent, it will remain a county responsibility. Once those dollars have been spent, then we will go back to the municipalities to help share in those costs.”
The participating municipalities are Green Bay, De Pere, and Allouez.
Bellin Health is also part of the public-private partnership. President and CEO George Kerwin says his organization understands the importance of the trail.
“To stay active, to look for any opportunity to use the resources in the community to maintain positive health, that’s all of our responsibilities.”
Kerwin says Bellin has purchased 200 passes for employees to use the Fox River Trail, will buy more if necessary, and is calling on other local employers to do the same.
