Providing Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use Planning and Transportation Assistance since 1973
The Village of Rib Mountain’s Park Commission updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the Village.
This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon Village managed outdoor recreation facilities. 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 the Village Board 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.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Summer 2026 — Villagewide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Summer 2026 — Goals & Objectives developed.
Summer/Fall 2026 — Plan ready for review and approval by Park Commission.
Fall 2026 — Plan ready for adoption by Village Board.
The purpose of a Comprehensive Plan is to guide future growth and development in the Town over the next 10 to 20 years. A comprehensive plan provides the vision and direction for natural resource protection, housing and economic development, transportation and community facilities, land use, intergovernmental relations, and other factors that together form the community’s future. Comprehensive planning was enacted to encourage long-range planning for communities and provide consistency in land use decision making. The Comprehensive Plan is a guide that elected officials, residents, and business owners can use for directing growth and redevelopment in the community. The Comprehensive Plan is a long-range policy document consisting of goals, objectives, and policies prepared to meet the State’s definition of a comprehensive plan as defined under Section 66.1001.
Wood County’s Parks & Forestry Department updates its Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.
This Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Plan focuses on County managed outdoor recreation facilities, and also list projects within the towns and villages. Local governments with their own Outdoor Recreation Plan are 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 within Wood County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan became eligible to apply for recreation grants when the County adopted this plan 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.
In 2025, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) produced this report in response to growing concerns over child care access and affordability. Child care impacts working families and contributes to workforce shortages across the region. This plan assesses current child care capacity through an analysis of demographics, provider availability, costs, and historical trends to present a comprehensive view of the county’s child care landscape. The plan offers several recommendations to address the identified challenges and support improvements in the child care system.
Lincoln County’s Forestry, Land, and 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. Local governments with their own ORP are 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 within Lincoln County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the County adopts this plan 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.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Langlade County’s Forestry, Parks, & Recreation 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 Village. Local governments with their own ORP are 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 within Langlade County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the County adopts this plan 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.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Juneau County’s Land, Forestry and 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. Local governments with their own ORP are 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 within Juneau County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the County adopts this plan 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.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Forest County’s Forestry & Recreation 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 City. Local governments with their own ORP are 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 within Forest County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the County adopts this plan 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.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk and bicycle. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.
Planning Process In 2022, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Wisconsin Rapids School District won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for several schools in the District. In the fall of 2023, the City and District began SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC guided the Wisconsin Rapids SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
The following schools are part of Wisconsin Rapids SRTS Planning: Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School Grant Elementary Grove Elementary Howe Elementary Mead Elementary THINK Academy Washington Elementary Woodside Elementary
Wisconsin Rapids SRTS Task Force Ronald Rasmussen, Superintendent, WRPS Kelly Schaeffer, Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School Principal, WRPS Tina Wallner, Grove Elementary Principal, WRPS Steve Thayer, Howe Elementary Principal, WRPS Kim Akey, Mead Elementary Principal, WRPS Rod Watson, Washington Elementary Principal, WRPS Bill Oswald, Woodside Elementary Principal, WRPS Edwin Allison, Director of Buildings and Grounds, WRPS Aaron Nelson, Business Services, WRPS Officer Dan Pelot, Student Resource Officer, WRPS Joe Eichsteadt, PE, City Engineer, City of Wisconsin Rapids Kyle Kearns, Community Development Director, City of Wisconsin Rapids Kristie Egge, MPH, Supervisor of Strategic Initiatives, Wood County Health Department Hannah Wendels Scott, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, Wood County, UW-Madison Extension
THINK Academy Kevin Whipple, Village of Rudolph President Christine Slattery, THINK Academy Principal, WRPS Roland Hawk, Wood County Highway Commissioner
Grant Elementary Sharon Schwab, Town of Grant Chairperson Nikki Calteux, Grant Elementary Principal, WRPS Nathan Check, Portage County Highway Commissioner
Staff Fred Heider, AICP, Planner, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk and bicycle. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.
Planning Process In 2022, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the School District of Rhinelander won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for several schools in the District. In the fall of 2023, the City and District began SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC guided the Rhinelander SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
The following schools are part of Rhinelander SRTS Planning: James Williams Middle School Central Elementary Crescent Elementary Northwoods Community Elementary Pelican Elementary
Rhinelander SRTS Task Force Robert Thom, Director of Business Services, School District of Rhinelander Kyle Raleigh, Principal, James Williams Middle School Amanda Olson, Principal, Central Elementary (Former Principal Paul Johnson) Alex Bontz, Principal, Crescent Elementary Kyle Barber, Principal, Northwoods Community Elementary (Former Principal Gayle Daniel) Kari Strebig, Principal, Pelican Elementary (Former Principal Candice Cook) Lloyd J. Gauthier, Jr., Chief, Rhinelander Police Department Patrick Reagan, Rhinelander City Administrator Tom Roeser, Rhinelander Director of Public Works Austyn Zarda, Rhinelander City Clerk Fred Heider, AICP, Planner, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
