Portage County Outdoor Recreation Plan 2025-2029

Portage County’s Parks Department updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.

This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon County managed outdoor recreation facilities, and also list projects within the towns and villages. The City of Stevens Point and Village of Plover both have ORPs which will both be referenced in this plan. All listed nature based and active recreation based projects become eligible for competitive federal and state outdoor recreation grant money when this plan is adopted by County or local municipality by resolution.

All communities that want to use this plan to apply for grants, must adopt it by resolution.

Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing outdoor recreation facilities.

2024 Planning Timeline

Winter/Spring 2024 – Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.

Spring 2024 – Survey received 182 responses. See Summary Results HERE (21 pages).
See Detailed Results HERE (127 pages).

Summer 2024 – Goals & Objectives developed.

Summer/Fall 2024 – Draft Plan ready for review.

Fall/Winter 2024 – Plan ready for approval by Park Commission and adoption by County Board.

Plan Maps

Map 1 – Outdoor Recreation
Map 2 – County Administered Outdoor Recreation
Map 3 – Legacy Places and Potential Trails
Map 4 – Urban Area Outdoor Recreation
Map 5 – Town Parks and School Forests
Map 6 – Nelsonville, Amherst Junction, & Amherst Outdoor Recreation
Map 7 – Almond Outdoor Recreation
Map 8 – Junction City Outdoor Recreation
Map 9 – Rosholt Outdoor Recreation

Plan Attachments

Attachment A – Park Design and Location Criteria
Attachment B – Facility Development Standards
Attachment C – State & Federal Financial Assistance Programs
Attachment D – SCORP Western Sands Region Analysis
Attachment E – Green Circle State Trail Map
Attachment F – Tomorrow River State Trail Map (Portage County section)
Attachment G – County Bike Plan Maps
Attachment H – Bicycle Campground Guide
Attachment I – Bicycle Campground Signage
Attachment J – Forest Legacy Areas 2024 Portage County

Portage County Outdoor Recreation Plan
placeholder for: DRAFT 2025-2029 Plan (Not available yet.)