Thoughts on the Deer Run Golf Course park idea

https://www.co.door.wi.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09132023-1523#page=7 has letters asking that Washington Island’s Deer Run Golf Course be purchased as a park.

I agree with the letter writers. In addition to the good points they make another thing to consider is that the current facility is a commercial use, and compared with the public services it requires, with its taxes the golf course and resort should be expected to be a net financial gain to local government.

If the golf course was subdivided for luxury housing, the resulting properties should be expected to require more in services than the taxes they pay. Housing for ordinary people also will require more in services, but in the long run, an affordable housing development would more than compensate the area for that de facto subsidy. This is because when parents raise children, eventually there will be new young adults who will contribute to their community, if they can be persuaded to stay.

Further south in Wisconsin, it seems that many parks could be transferred to a sewage district in a desperate-sounding attempt to take park maintenance off the county budget: https://www.maciverinstitute.com/2023/05/milwaukee-county-plans-to-dump-parks-system-onto-mmsd-customers/

If Door County were to try something similarly clever, that would mean having Destination Door County purchase or operate parks. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/66/vi/0615/1/f is broad enough to allow tourism entities to own parks. It would be unwieldy for them to operate the golf course. There are various ways to compensate for that drawback of involving DDC. I suppose the lodging and dining portion could be subdivided off, and either sold or leased separately. The golf course could be operated by an organization like with the Peninsula State Park golf course.

If the letter writers are unsuccessful at the county level, they could attempt a similar campaign at the municipal level for each and every Door County municipality. Park advocates could show up at board meetings up and down the peninsula, asking that the towns/villages/city pass a resolution requesting that the Tourism Zone have Destination Door County purchase the Deer Run property.

For off-Island municipal officials to take them seriously, they should front some of their own money into the cause. Yet the room tax revenues would certainly pay enough for it, and I doubt the effect on DDC’s existing operations would even be noticeable to those outside the organization.

The long run outcome would be to help the Washington Island visitor economy, and by extension, every community through which tourists drive through to get to Washington Island.