Central Sands Region Master Plan

DNR Publishes Summary Of Public Comments On Central Sand Hills Region Master Plan Supporting Document. More info here.

Friends of Devil's Lake are planning to build a new educational/interpretive center to include a cafe, gift shop and park offices.
The site they are considering involves North Shore parking lots number 3 and 4.
This site in the crowded lake basin is constricted due to the landsape, at the end of a daisy chain of busy parking lots, and adjacent to noisy freight train tracks.
They are planning to eliminate lot 4 which has the helipad for medevac.
The north entrance is often closed by Law Enforcement due to crowding during high season--leaving the proposed site inaccessible.

Our Thoughts On Advantages of a More Appropriate Site

centralized location between north and south shores
utilizes fallow park land
logical and convenient location with easy access and egress
large plot of land affords nearly unlimited potential for building and parking schemes and future expansion
high-visibility focal point for visitors arriving via US Hwy 12 and Ski Hi Road and anyone driving on South Shore Road
eases visitor population density at the lake shore by providing a new point of interest eliminates the environmental concerns concomitant with a major construction site near lakeshore
leaves ancient effigy mound areas intact and respected
leaves intact all extant green spaces, pet areas, and parking spaces around the lake
doesn't exacerbate traffic crunches and north and south shores
raises awareness that Devil's Lake State Park is more than the lake itself
no trees would have to be sacrificed
excellent site for solar energy enhancement
no freight train distractions
perfect location for additional park sticker sales booth

Where To Express Your Opinion

DNR Property Planning

Phil Rynish, DNR property Planning Section Chief, via email at
Phillip.Rynish@wisconsin.gov

or mail at

Wisconsin DNR; Attn: Phil Rynish;
PO Box 7921;
Madison, WI 53707-7921

Devil&s Lake State Park Superintendant

James.Carter@wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board

Supposedly these people have the final say on the new building's location.

Board of Directors of Friends of Devil's Lake

You can send an email to FODL on their contact page.

If you are a member of the Friends, you can attend their monthly meetings--here is their calendar. To add an item to the agenda, you must notify them at least a week in advance of the meeting. You can snail-mail them at:

Friend's of Devil's Lake State Park
PO Box 209
Baraboo, WI 53913