The City of Middleton was recently awarded a $45,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation. This matching grant will be used to complete a trail connection from the Graber Pond Trail to the Pheasant Branch Conservancy trail system via the Misty Valley Trail network. The City of Middleton Conservancy Lands Committee and Common Council have approved capital funds for the completion of the trail which is expected to be constructed this year. Located in the northwest portion of the city, the trail will complete a gap in the existing trail network and allow users to access the HWY 12 trail and the greater regional network of trails.
By creating the new trail, regional and local users now will be able to travel to Orchid Heights Park, and may eventually travel from the northwest side of Middleton all the way to Governor Nelson State Park, using off road paths. The construction of the new trail will be a true community project and involve multiple partners including the City of Middleton, UW-Madison Landscape Architecture Capstone students, Dane County Parks, WDNR, and Operation Fresh Start.
Middleton’s shared-use trail system provides important linkages between neighborhoods, schools, businesses and active recreation parks for residents and others to enjoy. Last year, trail counters recorded over 85,000 users of the Pheasant Branch trail system. This system has been nationally recognized and is truly an environmental, recreational and transportation gem.
The completion of the Graber Pond Connection trail would not be possible without the generosity of the Madison Community Foundation. Madison Community Foundation (MCF) encourages, facilitates and manages long-term philanthropy. Since 1942, MCF staff has helped people realize their philanthropic goals, allowing them to support charitable interests anywhere in the world. MCF also awards grants throughout Dane County to build a better community. More information is available online at http://www.madisoncommunityfoundation.org/Page.aspx?pid=581.
Contact Penni Klein, Public Lands Manager, at pklein@ci.middleton.wi.us or 821-8343
