“Bike trail part of plans for Peninsula state park” from the April 13, 1972 Door County Advocate
Bike trail part of plans for Peninsula state park
By JANE SHEA
Temporarily shelving political pundits, sewers, bridges and flaring tempers, consider for a moment the joys of bike riding.
Ralf Halvorsen, Peninsula park superintendent, has been doing more than thinking about this and other concerns during the past ice bound winter months.
Already started is a five and a half mile bike path, expected to reach completion in about a year. The trail, first of its kind in a Wisconsin state park, begins at the Fish Creek entrance, parallels several scenic roadways and winds up at the Nicolet Bay bath house. Later, Halvorsen said, an additional four and a half miles will be added, this portion continuing from the Nicolet area, meandering toward Eagle Tower and a turnaround, then rejoining the first trail about a quarter of the way back. When completed, the paths will roughly form two circles offering one long ride or a choice of shorter ones, depending upon your legs and inclination.
No power bikes or golf carts will be permitted on the trail, hence the reference to leg power. Winters, however, the route may be used by snowmobilers. In fact, part of it was initiated during the months just past.
Brushing and rough grading on about two-thirds of the first trail have been completed and when this is finished, the path is to be surfaced with fine crushed rock. Blacktopping may be applied later.
The bike trail project was suggested by Halvorsen and approved by the Bureau of Parks and Recreation. The superintendent feels that the trail will not only provide pleasure for bike enthusiasts, but is also hopeful that it will lessen the chance of accidents. The trail is located approximately 100 feet off the roadways. Thus far there have been no major auto-bike confrontations, but Halvorsen feels that preventive action is in order.
Halvorsen also has another project up for consideration. He wants permission to build two tennis courts in the vicinity of the clubhouse. No word has yet been received from the park bureau but he is hopeful that this will also be approved.
PARK SUPERINTENDENT HALVORSEN —Henry Shea
With the weather not quite cooperative enough for full scale park labor, Halvorsen still has time to do a little philosophizing about the acreage under his care, an area he views with pride. He thinks for example, that cross country skiing, or ski touring, should be encouraged during the winter months. He said a small number of people enjoyed this sport in the park last season and found that tours through the woods with only the shushing of skies breaking the stillness, proved a pleasing experience.
He thinks it an excellent sport for children, as well as for adults who want to take up some form of active recreation at an age usually considered beyond the norm. As a family sport, it is relatively inexpensive as compared to equipping for down hill skiing. Halvorsen is understandably enthused about use of the park for skiing. A former ski jumper, he now finds level ground much to his liking.
Looking ahead to the coming season, Halvorsen, all business, points out that park stickers and camping fees are in force beginning this month. Daily stickers for in-state cars are $1 and seasonals, $3. Out of state visitors will find the ante raised, daily stickers $2 and seasonal, $6. Visitors to the park last year numbered 915,000.
No new camp sites will be developed, according to Halvorsen, and this may indicate a swing toward keeping remaining wilderness areas in their natural state.
Door county visitors, in addition to enjoying the natural beauties of this area, will also find that special programs are again planned. There will be nature talks, traditional Sunday evening vespers and a repeat of the popular drama and song production, “Song of the Inland Seas” as well as a new show.
Golfers, already busy polishing up their putters, are notified that the Peninsula park course opens the second weekend in May.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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