DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Construction is expected to begin today on the expansion of a popular state park in Door County.
The White Cedar Nature Center is expected to double in size, accommodating more visitors.
It’s happening at Peninsula State Park, between Fish Creek and Ephraim.
The turn of the shovels Wednesday afternoon marks the beginning of construction. Plans call for meeting space, more storage, and indoor restrooms. The group Friends of Peninsula State Park raised $350,000 toward the initiative.
Chris Holicek, Friends of Peninsula State Park President, tells FOX 11 it’s an exciting time.
“Our friends’ group really believes in education, and educating children about nature and the environment. So an expansion of this will offer more classroom space.”
The nature center is expected to be completed by next summer, but it isn’t the only project underway at Peninsula.
The State Building Commission approved two weeks ago the plan to reconstruct Eagle Tower.
“That’s one of our most iconic gems, iconic structures in our entire State Park System,” said Missy VanLanduyt, DNR Recreation Partnership Section Chief.
A Department of Natural Resources inspection deemed the 75-foot tower unsafe. It closed in 2015 and was taken down a year later. The friends’ group is contributing $750,000 toward the $3.4 million restoration.
VanLanduyt tells FOX 11 the new tower will be pretty cool.
“It’s going to have a ramp. It’s going to have a fully accessible tree-walk canopy. So the ramp is about 850 feet long. It will meander its way through the trees and then come over the road and meet a 60-foot tower.”
Groundbreaking on the site is scheduled for the spring of 2020, and construction on the tower being completed by the end of the year.
“We will look forward to climbing it, and having lots and lots of visitors come and climb it with us. It will be exciting,” said Holicek.
The construction is part of a $15 million effort to improve the park.
Other upgrades include new equipment at campgrounds, like picnic tables and fire rings.
Construction is also underway to build new bathrooms and shower facilities.
