People using the Fox River State Recreational Trail in De Pere, April 10, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The weekend warm-up has sent a lot of people outside and hitting the trails.
“Our 2023 annual State Trail Permits are out. The permits are valid January 1, through December 31 of the calendar year, and now’s a good time to get it. Spring is in the air this week,” said Matt Kriese, Brown County Parks Director.
Spring is definitely in the air and people are enjoying the conditions all around the area, but before you head out, you may need a trail pass.
On a breezy Monday morning, bicyclists are heading down the Fox River State Trail in Green Bay. Walking on the thoroughfare is always free, but those bicyclists, rollerbladers, and skateboarders aged 16 or older, need a state pass before traveling down the trails. A season permit is $25, a daily pass is $5.
“Do the right thing, Get your annual pass if you plan on using these state trails throughout the summer. It’s a reasonable cost to support the trails,” said Kriese.
Kriese says money raised locally stays in the area.
“70 percent of those funds stay within Brown County. We’re able to re-invest that 70 percent right back into your trails. There isn’t tax dollars from the county that goes toward these trails. So for all of the maintenance, the mowing, the cleaning, the utility costs of our restrooms. All of these things are funded through your state trail dollars,” he said.
At the section at Voyageur Park in De Pere, Ken Diehl says he has a trail pass, and walks more than three miles each day.
“I think they’re in really good shape. I think they take care of them quite well. I see them plow here in the winter. Everything. I didn’t think they would even do that. I thought they’d leave it go, but there’s a plow that comes through here, so a guy can walk up and down there in the winter if he likes,” said Diehl.
County leaders say more than 100,000 visitors use 21 mile-long Fox River State Trail each year. And that’s not all. In the Village of Howard, the trailhead of the Mountain-Bay State Recreational Trail allows people to venture all the way to Wausau, if they choose.
“So when you buy the permit here in Brown County, you can utilize 42 areas on your travels throughout Wisconsin this summer,” said Kriese.
People are able to buy passes, at kiosks set up along the trail, by phone, or on the web.
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