Dane County Awards City of Middleton $1 Million Grant for Next Segment of North Mendota Trail
July 27, 2022
Ariana Vruwink, 608-267-8823
County Executive
Today, County Executive Joe Parisi joined Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar and other local officials to announce that Dane County will award the City of Middleton $1 million for construction of the next segment of the North Mendota Trail. This segment will run from the Highland Way/Century Avenue traffic signal to the eastern City limits just past Signature Drive. The trail will help alleviate safety issues for bicyclists along County Highway M and help move the North Mendota Trail closer to completion.
“Dane County has an extensive network of bike trails, and we are excited to award the City of Middleton this $1 million grant to further our shared mission of completing the North Mendota Trail,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “By developing this trail, we can help keep bicyclists safe and connect even more Dane County residents with new outdoor experiences.”
This trail segment will consist of an at-grade paved path and improvements where the path crosses street and driveway intersections. The City of Middleton will be responsible for planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
“All of us in Middleton greatly appreciate Dane County’s partnership to help the city construct a key segment of this regional trail,” said Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar. “Completion of this path means that pedestrians and bicyclists who live in northeast Middleton will finally have a much safer, all-season connection with the rest of the community, while at the same time providing city residents will a great alternative for reaching Mendota County Park, Governor Nelson State Park, and points beyond.”
This grant is a continuation of efforts by Dane County to develop regionally significant bicycle and pedestrian trails throughout the County. For any given project, the County’s role ranges from providing support through planning assistance and grant funding, to taking on segments directly, to working with units of government or other partners to divide responsibilities.
Earlier this month, state and local officials celebrated the completion of a ½ mile of new trail through Governor Nelson State Park, which completed a 4-mile segment of the North Mendota Trail that connects the Village of Waunakee and the Town of Westport between the North Mendota Wildlife Area Prairie Unit and the North Mendota Natural Resource Area. Future phases of the North Mendota Trail will connect the trail to Mendota County Park and the City of Middleton.
Dane County has been partnering with the City of Middleton, Town of Westport, and Wisconsin DNR for the past five years and has spent nearly $2.5 million on the planning and development of the North Mendota Trail. This latest grant resolution was introduced to the Dane County Board last Thursday and is expected to be approved in the coming weeks.