Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Gogebic County — A long winter has interfered with the first year of Gogebic County’s new 5-Year Recreation Plan, but related projects are still scheduled at several sites this summer — albeit a little later than anticipated.
In fact, one project slated for this year was completed in advance last fall. That involved the lengthening of campsites at Lake Gogebic County Park in Marenisco.
“It’s been an ongoing project,” said Greg Ryskey, director of Forestry and Parks for Gogebic County. “For the most part, they’re done.”
Ryskey said it made sense to complete the work last fall when contractors already were in place, installing a new playground. He added that the longer campsites allow for longer trailers to park.
The Lake Gogebic County Park has 53 campsites, available from mid-May through September each year, with access to electricity and water. Some sites are seasonal, whereas others are open for nightly or monthly reservations.
In terms of scheduled work, other recreational sites are still pending, said Ryskey.
“With the late spring and associated snow melt damages, we are still playing catch-up with our regular duties and have not been able to focus on items scheduled for 2023 in the Rec Plan,” he noted.
Moreover, he explained that some projects, such as improvements to existing multi-use trails in the Powers Road Recreation Area, in the far northwestern part of the county, may need to be scaled back. The same goes for trail improvements in the Mosinee Grade Recreation Area, south of Wakefield.
“Dam maintenance at McDonald Lake will include board replacement and paint sometime this summer,” added Ryskey regarding McDonald Lake County Park in Erwin Township. “Tent pad improvements on McDonald Lake are scheduled to be completed this fall.”
Overall, because of the lingering spring, Ryskey noted that the primary focus has been in “getting the campgrounds open and preparing and bidding our timber sales.”
Future plans, as part of the county recreation plan, include additional hunter walker trails for Powers Road in 2024 and the development of ORV connector routes for Mosinee Grade in 2025.
As described in the recreation plan, “The 1,136-acre Mosinee Grade area is a Grouse-Enhanced Management System tract (that) has been the subject of considerable wildlife (grouse, deer, etc.) habitat work, such as wildlife openings and forage plantings, to improve hunting opportunities. The tract includes a 5.6-mile ruffed grouse hunter walking trail.”
The plan further adds, “The Powers Road trail network, approximately 30 miles in total, was developed in cooperation with a local mountain biking group with the intention of connecting to regional trails in nearby parts of the U.P. and Northern Wisconsin. Area trail planning is conducted by the Gogebic Range Trail Authority. The trails allow multiple uses: non-motorized, ATV/ORV, and equestrian. Several miles of trails are developed as hunter walking trails, and in connection with four wildlife openings created since 2015, deer and grouse hunting opportunities are abundant.”
For Lake Gogebic, the long-term schedule includes improvements to the beach area in 2024, installation of a flush-level restroom in 2025, and major maintenance or replacement of the dock in 2027.
For McDonald Lake County Park, reconstruction of the boat ramp is planned in 2026 and a new vault toilet and improvements to the road leading to the site are hoped for 2027.
Finally, for Little Girl’s Point in Charter Ironwood Township, major maintenance of buildings is expected in 2024, followed by the set up of a potable water system and additional campsites with electric hook-ups in 2026, and the renovation or construction of restrooms with flush toilets in 2027.
The Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region, directed by Jerry Wuorenmaa and located in Hancock, Michigan, prepared the county’s five-year plan.
