Rec Trail Plan Leads Back to Muskego's South Side, With a Little Help from Residents

The change in the recreational trail plan that would have moved a length of paved path from Highway OO (North Cape Road) in lieu of paths planned around Little Muskego Lake was changed again as residents along that route came out to protest Monday night.

The Park and Recreation Board met to reconsider the decision, which moved the trail construction to 2019, a full five years later than originally planned. A vocal group of residents, along with planned roadwork along Highway OO south to Highway 36 by Waukesha County, helped convince the board to reverse itself.

Stephen Van Goethem, a representative of Champions Village, told the board that he was "taken aback by the changed plan, especially after we've heard about this trail for years." He told the board that the trail passes by about 400 homes, representing about $120 million in property values for the city.

"In the 12 years since we've been developed, there's been no investment in this area; we are land-locked and we'd like to offer our kids a safe place to ride their bikes," Van Goethem added.

Alderman Eileen Madden, who represents the 7th District where the trail would be constructed, also reminded the board that the trail had been in the parks and open space plan since 1992.

"Everyone's been waiting patiently, and I'd hate to see this put aside for speculation elsewhere in the city," she said. 

Earlier, Alderman Dan Soltysiak had proposed moving up the "Little Lake Loop" and included traffic counts for the roadways that would be involved. Members of the board conceded that there would need to be purchases of land in the dense residential areas, and that absent of any firm county projects, the costs would be solely on Muskego to cover. However they approved the change citing the need to address more densely populated areas of the city.

Madden offered her own statistics, including a count of 5,900 vehicles a day that travel from Highway 36 to Durham Drive, and said that planned county road work on Highway OO would also offer the opportunity to save costs on engineering.

Commissioner Gerald Hulbert took on some of the blame for the decision, and said that he had thought there wasn't interest. He told residents that even though there was ample paved space to ride and wide enough gravel shoulders along Highway OO, he never noticed much bike traffic. 

"I feel like much of this is also entitlement issue," Hulbert said. "'We pay taxes, therefore we deserve to have a trail.' However, I do see a compelling argument from (Director of Public Works) Dave Simpson's report which shows that we can save costs on engineering."