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Audubon society will hold membership program Wed.
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MONROE - A general membership program hosted by the Green-Rock Audubon Society will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17 in the second-floor meeting room at the Monroe Public Library, 925 16th Ave.

Jodi Brandt, a recent Ph.D graduate from the University of Wisconsin's Wildlife Ecology Department, will speak on "Tibetan sacred sites and forest birds in China's Himalayan mountains." Brandt did some work in southwestern China, in the area of Shangri-la. She looked at forest birds, patterns of old growth forest logging and the importance of Tibetan sacred forests as protected areas. Brandt also created a field guide to birds of that region, as well as taking pictures of both the landscape and the birds of the region where she studied.

Cookies and refreshments will be provided.

More information is available by contacting Eunice Brennan at (608) 325-6948 or Tom O'Brien at (608) 882-5698.
New plan focuses on city’s expansive park system
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The annual Monroe Parks and Recreation best shot doubles tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, at Twining Park in Monroe. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the course expansion to 18 holes, which Parks Director Paul Klinzing is progressing toward a finalized design. (Times file photo: Anthony Wahl)

MONROE — From lighting replacements at Twining Park ballfields, to tennis court resurfacing and improvements to the water slide and other features at the city’s pool, city officials are reviewing a new planning document they say will be a guide to what many consider one of the city’s most celebrated features: Its park system.

While arctic air sweeping in before Christmas may discourage many residents from getting outside as much, officials say that is the goal of the strategic planning effort. 

“The Parks & Open Space Plan involves a collaborative approach to reflect the needs and priorities of the community,” said City Administrator Brittney Rindy in an email. “It begins with a comprehensive community survey to gather input from residents about their preferences and concerns regarding our parks and green spaces.”

The new, four-year plan, covering 2025 to 2029, was presented for initial review by the city through a Dec. 11 meeting of the city’s plan commission. A key feature, of course, is the public feedback section, and it reflects the priorities and perspective of a cross-section of city residents, officials said.

“Based on this feedback, along with Wisconsin DNR strategic planning standards, a plan is developed by the staff to be reviewed and recommended by the Parks Commission and City Plan Commission to the City Council,” Rindy said. 

The plan, available for public view on the city’s website, includes a section on each major city park/amenity and plans to improve most, if not all, of them over the proposal’s lifespan.

There is a lot for planners to cover. Consider that the local park system includes:

●  16 city park areas of 110 acres

●  13 playgrounds available for children

●  More than 100 programs offered.

●  Nine shelters.

●  Over 70 youth hired during the year for 100 seasonal positions

●  A 90-acre park with trails and areas to walk your dog.

“There’s just a lot of information in this document,” said Josh Trame, Monroe’s Parks and Forestry Supervisor.

Among the sections, the public input section highlights the community’s commitment to its parks. When asked “what the role of parks, recreation and open space in Monroe today is” more than 63% of survey respondents ranked it “extremely important,” while another 35% considered it “important.”

When asked about “improvements and possible additions” to parks, the “very important” items noted by the public included adding shade structures to the pool, more linking of parks to trails, planting more trees, improving the existing pool, and adding water fountains/benches at multiple locations.

Once the draft is completed, the plan will go to the Park Commission for final recommendation to the Plan Commission, which then recommends that final plan to the City Council for final approval — a process likely to go well into 2025.

The plan also is instrumental in securing additional grant and other funding for park-related projects, according to Trame and Rindy. Other key staffers at the parks department include Matt Skibba, director of culture and recreation, and Alyssa Eberle, recreation supervisor.

“The plan…is as essential for securing grants as it identifies a clear plan for the development and improvements of the parks and recreational areas,” Rindy said. “The plan also shows our commitment to the community to enhance public spaces through their feedback.”