Providing Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use Planning and Transportation Assistance since 1973
Wood County’s Parks & Forestry Department updates its Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Plan (Outdoor Rec. Plan) every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.
This Outdoor Rec. 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 Wood 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.
2025 Planning Timeline
Winter 2024-2025 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2025 — 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-12, 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.
In 2024, the D.C. Everest Area School District won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for each public school in the District. The Weston Elementary SRTS Plan was created in 2024. The D.C. Everest Junior High SRTS Plan was created in 2009.
Spring 2026 – D.C. Everest Area School District to perform transportation surveys (e.g., Student Tallies & Parent Surveys).
Fall 2026 – The D.C. Everest Area School District and local governments that the District operates in to begin SRTS planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC is guiding the D.C. Everest SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
Spring & summer 2027 – Data collection and SRTS planning to continue. Further analysis with the SRTS Task Force will occur throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
Plan review and revision will occur throughout spring & summer 2027.
Plan adoption is anticipated in fall 2027.
Implementation of the D.C. Everest SRTS Plan can begin anytime after adoption, and throughout many years later.
Schools in D.C. Everest SRTS Plan:
Evergreen Elementary (K-5) Hatley Elementary (K-5) Mountain Bay Elementary (K-5) Riverside Elementary (K-5) Rothschild Elementary (3K, K-5) D.C. Everest Middle School (6-7) D.C. Everest High School (10-12)
Evergreen Elementary (grades K-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Evergreen Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Hatley Elementary (grades K-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Hatley Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Mountain Bay Elementary (grades K-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Mountain Bay Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Riverside Elementary (grades K-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Riverside Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Rothschild Elementary (grades 3K, K-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Rothschild Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
D.C. Everest Middle School (grades 6-7) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – D.C. Everest Middle School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
D.C. Everest High School (grades 10-12) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – D.C. Everest High School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-12, 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.
In 2024, the City of Antigo and the Unified School District of Antigo won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for each public school in the District.
Spring 2026 – Unified School District of Antigo to perform transportation surveys (e.g., Student Tallies & Parent Surveys).
Fall 2026 – The City of Antigo and the Unified School District of Antigo to begin SRTS planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC is guiding the Antigo SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
Spring & summer 2027 – Data collection and SRTS planning to continue. Further analysis with the SRTS Task Force will occur throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
Plan review and revision will occur throughout spring & summer 2027.
Plan adoption is anticipated in fall 2027.
Implementation of the Antigo SRTS Plan can begin anytime after adoption, and throughout many years later.
Schools in Antigo SRTS Plan:
North Elementary (4K-3) West Elementary (4K-3) John H Bradley Elementary (K-4, replacing both North & West) Antigo Middle School (5-8) Antigo High School (9-12)
East Elementary (grades 4K-3) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – East Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
North Elementary (grades 4K-3) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – North Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
West Elementary (grades 4K-3) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – West Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Antigo Middle School (grades 4-7) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Antigo Middle School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Antigo High School (grades 8-12) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Antigo High School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-12, 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.
In 2024, the City of Tomahawk, St Mary Catholic School, and the School District of Tomahawk won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for each public school in the District.
Spring 2025 – School District of Tomahawk and St Mary Catholic School to perform transportation surveys (e.g., Student Tallies & Parent Surveys).
Spring 2026 – The City of Tomahawk, St Mary Catholic School, and the School District of Tomahawk to begin SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC is guiding the Tomahawk SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
Spring 2026 – Data collection to occur. Further analysis with the SRTS Task Force will occur throughout 2026.
Plan development to occur in 2026.
Plan review and revision will occur throughout the summer & fall 2026.
Plan adoption is anticipated in fall/winter 2026.
Implementation of the Tomahawk SRTS Plan can begin anytime after adoption, and through many years later.
Schools in Tomahawk SRTS Plan:
St Mary Catholic School (PK-5) Tomahawk Elementary (4K-5) Tomahawk Middle School (6-8) Tomahawk High School (9-12)
St Mary Catholic School (grades PK-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – St Mary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Tomahawk Elementary (grades 4K-5) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Tomahawk Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Tomahawk Middle School (grades 6-8) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Tomahawk Middle School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Tomahawk High School (grades 9-12) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Tomahawk High School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-12, 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.
In 2024, the City of Elroy and the Royall School District won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for each public school in the District.
Spring 2025 – Royall School District to perform transportation surveys (e.g., Student Tallies & Parent Surveys).
Spring 2026 – The City of Elroy and the Royall School District to begin SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC is guiding the Royall & Elroy SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
Spring 2026 – Data collection to occur. Further analysis with the SRTS Task Force will occur throughout 2026.
Plan development to occur in 2026.
Plan review and revision will occur throughout the summer & fall 2026.
Plan adoption is anticipated in fall/winter 2026.
Implementation of the Royall & Elroy SRTS Plan can begin anytime after adoption, and through many years later.
Schools in Elroy & Royall SRTS Plan:
Royall Elementary (PK-3) Royall Intermediate (4-6) Royall Middle School (7-8)
Royall Elementary (grades PK-3) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Royall Elementary SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Royall Intermediate (grades 4-6) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Royall Intermediate SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Royall Middle School (grades 7-8) Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.) DRAFT – Royall Middle School SRTS Action Plan (Not available yet.)
Walking School Buses Walking school buses are a great way to offer children a supervised walk to school on a regular basis.
Bicycle Trains and Bicycle Skills Clinics Bicycle trains allow students to bicycle to school together on a designated route under supervision. Bicycle Skills Clinics or “bicycle rodeos” are hands-on bicycle safety lesson with bike inspections, safety talks and bicycle skills practice.
Youth Education – available for a nominal fee [Wisconsin Bike Fed].
Adult Education – available for a nominal fee [Wisconsin Bike Fed].
Mileage Tracking Providing a way for students to track the miles that they have walked or ridden a bicycle is a tangible way to chart progress toward a walking or biking goal.
Safe Routes To School (SRTS) advocacy video that briefly describes what this program is all about. Created by East Central Florida Regional Planning Council with a SRTS grant.
32 second PSA “A”
32 second PSA “B”
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3.57 minute video The League of American Cyclists promotes Safe Routes to School programs. Share this video with your local school board, PTA, or city council.
1:23 minute PSA A PSA from the National Safety Council and First Student featuring safety tips to share the road with school buses. Visit nsc.org/back2school for more information and downloadable materials on back to school safety issues.
The Vilas County Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) Plan is a 10-year plan (2025-2034) that provides an assessment of county water quality and soil erosion conditions, identifies local conservation priorities, and establishes conservation goals in a Work Plan.
The Vilas County Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) Plan is a 10-year plan (2025-2034) that provides an assessment of county water quality and soil erosion conditions, identifies local conservation priorities, and establishes conservation goals in a Work Plan.
Adopted LWRM plans ensure county eligibility for grant funding of county conservation staff and cost sharing for conservation practices.
Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) Plans provide counties an opportunity to explain how they will meet the state performance standards and prohibitions (NR 151 and ATCP 50) to reduce runoff and protect water quality, as well as address other local land and water resource management concerns. The LWRM Plan provides the counties with the ability to develop local strategies to address the concerns; budget the limited staff and cost share dollars toward these concerns; provide for integration of programs and funding from all sources; and develop a variety of implementation tools.
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.
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.
In 2018, the City of Wausau and the Wausau School District won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan.
In the fall of 2021, the City of Wausau and the Wausau School District began SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC is guiding the Wausau SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
Data collection occurred in spring & summer 2022. Further analysis with the SRTS Task Force will occur throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Plan development occurred in 2023.
Plan review and revision will occur throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
Plan adoption is anticipated in spring/summer 2024.
Implementation of the Wausau SRTS Plan can begin anytime thereafter into many years later.
Schools in Wausau SRTS Plan:
John Muir Middle School Thomas Jefferson Elementary Grant Elementary G.D. Jones Elementary Lincoln Elementary
Horace Mann Middle School Riverview Elementary Franklin Elementary Hawthorn Hills Elementary John Marshall Elementary
