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2023 Bayfield Area Trails Forum

3/14/2023

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​Please join us on Saturday, May 6th, for the Bayfield Area Trails Forum and Open House under a large tent at Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cider at 87380 Betzold Rd. in Bayfield.

​The forum runs from 9:00am to noon. There will be a feature presentation from 10-10:30am.

Table Topics:
Visit each table to mark-up maps & share ideas about enhancing and expanding the area’s trails and our volunteer programs.
  • Bayfield Area Trails: Developing the big-picture vision and plan. 
  • Bayfield County: Trail projects.
  • City of Bayfield: Big Ravine Trail system & more.
  • Landmark Conservancy: Brownstone Trail updates & vision.
  • Mount Ashwabay: Trail enhancements. 
  • Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa: Trail opportunities.
  • Town of Bayfield: Hatchery to Ashwabay & Big Ravine Headwaters.
  • BATs: Participate! 
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We look forward to seeing you there! Spread the word and bring a friend. Click the Event Poster button to download a PDF version of the event poster.
EVENT POSTER

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Sponsored by the Bayfield Area Trails Committee
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We’re Buying a Bridge!

3/8/2023

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Similar example of an Anderson bridge from a project in Oak Brook IL. Click image to enlarge. Photo credit: Anderson Bridges - https://andersonbridges.com/bridges
​Over the river and through the woods we go! Thanks to the sponsorship of the Town of Bayfield, we are celebrating the selection of Anderson Bridges as the contractor to supply and install a steel truss arched bridge across Pikes Creek. The bridge is the centerpiece of an all-new BATs trail connecting from the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery Trail south of Bayfield to the Jolly Long Loop Trail at Mt. Ashwabay. The new bridge will be fifty-five feet long and five feet wide with steel railings and treated Southern yellow pine decking.
​“We were overwhelmed by the response to our plea for financial support for this project,” said Kate Kitchell, BATs Committee Chair. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we were able to raise the funds to proceed in record time. We are especially grateful for a very generous gift from Jim Bryan and Dee Johnson who donated more than half of the cost of the bridge.
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Pikes Creek at proposed bridge Location. Click image to enlarge.
​“Dee and I enjoy walking the many trails of the Bayfield area for which Bayfield Area Trails deserves much credit,” Jim Bryan said. “One of our particular favorite walks is along Pikes Creek. We found the idea of connecting the Pikes Trail to the Ashwabay system to be very exciting and worthwhile. The key to the project was the placement of a well built and durable bridge across Pikes Creek. Kate and BATs had done the ‘legwork,’ but the fundraising was far short of the goal. We decided to make a donation to push the funding ‘over the top’ and hopefully make the trail a reality in 2023. We’re thrilled that the project is indeed on schedule to open this summer. We live in a wonderful place and an enhancement like this trail will help make it even better for all.”
​The balance of funds for the bridge, boardwalk, and final trail work is available thanks to forty donors who contributed over $13,000 and $6,000 committed by the Town of Bayfield.
Our goal is to install the bridge by mid-July. The bridge site will be accessed from the service road/angler access behind the Fish Hatchery, about two tenths of a mile beyond the Red Dam gate. No equipment will be allowed in the creek due to its ecological sensitivity; thereby requiring all installation to occur from the side adjacent to the service road.
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SIgn for the South Shore Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area - Pikes Creek Unit. Click image to enlarge.
Other trail work will begin after the snow melt when Will Krift of Trails Anonymous will return to do "touch up" and drainage work on the trail built last fall. Following bridge installation, BATs volunteers will build about 150 feet of boardwalk across the floodplain to connect the new bridge with the trail built last fall. The final touches will include directional signage with maps, plus interpretive signs designed by BATs Communications team member Neil Howk.
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Anderson Bridges sign on Jerry Jolly trail bridge that crosses Pikes Creek. Click image to enlarge.
​Because the project is sponsored by the Town of Bayfield, a subcommittee appointed by the Town Board went through a competitive bidding process for the bridge fabrication, delivery, and installation. The subcommittee received seven bids and chose Anderson Bridges of Colfax, WI whose bid was within the fundraising goal of $45,000. People may be familiar with other Anderson Bridges in Bayfield County including the bridge over Pikes Creek on the Jerry Jolly Trail, and many snowmobile bridges. 
The plan for a trail to connect the Fish Hatchery to Ashwabay was developed over a two-year period with input from many community members. Thanks to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Paul Piszczek and Greg Behling for supporting the project and providing guidance as to how to develop the trail in an environmentally sensitive manner. As always, for their ongoing support, thanks to the Town of Bayfield including the Town Board, Town Chairman Tom Gordon, and staff members Kelly Faye and Billie Hoopman. 
Watch this video for a tour of the new trail and description of this important trail connection.
Thanks also to project subcommittee members Bob Feyen, Carol Fahrenkrog, Karen Boutin and Dennis Clark.
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“Later this summer we’ll have a dedication to wrap it all up and tie it in a bow!” Kate said.  Please check the BATs website in the coming months for information about volunteering on the project and the dedication! 
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Here is a list of the people who generously donated to the funding of this project:
​Allan & Christy Ingram
Bill & Nancy Bussey
Bob & Patty Wood
Bryce & Susan Thompson
Cyndi Taylor
David Forrester
Dawn Lovisa
Erik & Paula Scott
Ipsen/Wegerson
Janel & Rich Ryan
Jared Johnson Cribbage Classic
Jeff Garrett
Jerry Meyer
Jim Bryan & Dee Johnson
Joe Groshek
John Breese/MarySweval
Johnson/Kinnee
Jon & Tina Nelson
Kathleen Russell 
Keith Ray & Cindy Anderson
Leo Stern 
​Liz & Larry Fentress
Lois Albrecht
Lucy Terry
Lynn & Mike Brown
Mark Peterson
Mary O'Brien
Matt Carrier
Neil Howk/Susan Larsen
Pat Jerich
Paul & Brenda Kaese 
Peter Magnuson
Peter Rothe
Richard Charboneau
Ross Huelster
Ross Smith
Scott Nesvold
Sean Reagan
Ted Dougherty
Terese Lynch
Timothy Pavlish
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