LINCOLN COUNTY – Earlier this month, a Lincoln County committee heard a report on a recently conducted survey focused on outdoor recreation in the county.
In February, the Lincoln County Forestry, Land and Parks Department launched a public survey on the county’s Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is updated every five years.
The survey aimed to gather feedback and help identify priority areas for improvement and support eligibility for future grant funding. All who use outdoor spaces in Lincoln County were asked to participate in the online survey, which was open through mid-April.
During its meeting at the Lincoln County Service Center on Monday, June 8, the Lincoln County Forestry, Land and Parks Committee heard a report from Fred Heider of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC), which is working with the county on updating its Outdoor Recreation Plan.
Heider told the committee that in previous years when the survey had been conducted, fewer than 150 responses were typically received. This year, Heider said, the survey saw an “excellent response rate,” with 385 individuals taking part.
The majority of respondents were between the ages of 57 and 75, according to a report provided to the committee by Heider. Roughly 17% of respondents do not live in or have a second home in Lincoln County; 18% live in the City of Merrill, 13% live in the Town of Merrill, 10% live in the Town of Harrison and 9% live in the City of Tomahawk, the report said.
Survey results showed that respondents have a largely positive view of Lincoln County’s parks and trails.
Walking/hiking was the most popular activity reported by respondents, with 76% saying they participate in it. Fishing (58%) and boating (53%) rounded out the top three activities.
Respondents called for the further development of numerous outdoor recreation opportunities in the county, including more biking, hiking, walking and ATV/UTV trails, as well as additional hunting and fishing access.
Camping enthusiasts pointed to access to hiking, biking and ATV/UTV routes and trails, as well as area attractions, as top reasons to camp in the county, according to the report.
Areas of improvement identified by ATV/UTV riders, snowmobilers and bicyclists included trail connectivity, expansion, maintenance and signage, while water recreation enthusiasts pointed to boat landings, lake and river access points, boat ramps and parking areas as potential targets for enhancement.
Full survey results are available on the NCWRPC website at www.tinyurl.com/42kptatw.
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