Village Of Sister Bay Seeks Grant For Land Acquisition

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Village of Sister Bay has applied for a 50% matching Urban Green Space grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to assist with the purchase of approximately 16.8 acres on the bay of Green Bay in the Village of Sister Bay. 

The property includes approximately 600 feet of shoreline on the bay of Green Bay. The triangular-shaped parcel is vacant and undeveloped with a shoreline consisting of a polished stone beach and mature white cedar forest with a post-glacial ridge/swale rolling topography inland. The Village plans to provide public access to the approximately 600 feet of shoreline to allow for low-impact recreational use.

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund was created in 1989 to preserve important natural resources, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation for all Wisconsinites to enjoy.

Stewardship-purchased land cannot prohibit nature-based outdoor activities (hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking or cross-country skiing) unless the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has determined prohibiting one or more of those activities is justified to protect public safety.

Should this property be acquired as planned, village ordinance will prohibit the discharge of firearms on the property. The DNR is proposing that the prohibition of gun hunting on this property is necessary to protect public safety. The DNR has examined the following factors in making this determination: close-proximity to residential lots and a public roadway.

View the Public Safety Team Analysis of Nature Based Outdoor Activities on Projects Purchased with Stewardship Grant Funds for the proposed acquisition here. Proposed stewardship grant awards are available here. Hard copies are available upon request. 

The public is encouraged to send written comments on the proposed acquisition via mail to Jessica Terrien, Regional Project Manager, Wisconsin DNR Northeast Regional Headquarters, 2984 Shawano Ave., Green Bay, WI 54313 or email to Jessica.Terrien@wisconsin.gov. The deadline for written comments is Dec. 11, 2020.

In accordance with s. NR 52.04 (2) (b), Wis. Adm. Code, objections about the prohibited activities on this property must show the proposed prohibition to be inconsistent with s. 23.0916 (2) (b), Stats., and s. NR 52.05, Wis. Adm. Code.

For more information on the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, visit the DNR website. To receive email notices of Stewardship Grant projects, please subscribe through the DNR website.