What are the geographical limits of the High Cliff Corridor?
The overall project limits are from the Trestle bridge on the west to High Cliff State Park on the east. The trail corridor is an important regional trail connection, but also will serve as a spine for local trails to extend their reach from neighborhoods to schools, city centers, and outdoor areas.
Who is all involved in this project? Who are the project partners?
The project could not proceed without the extensive collaboration of all of our partners:
- City of Menasha
- Village of Harrison
- Village of Sherwood
- Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
- East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC)
- David L. & Rita E Nelson Family Fund of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
- Fox Cities Greenways
- Friends of High Cliff State Park
- Calumet County
- Winnebago County
and… additional grant funding support from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WisDNR) & Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)!
What funding has already been secured for the project?
The David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family fund of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region has donated and pledged the following towards the project:
- funded the High Cliff Connection Master Plan ($100,000)
- pledged $2,000,000 towards the overall project. This pledged amount can be used for a multitude of elements associated with the project including employing the part-time trail coordinator; hosting the project website; and matching local, state, and/or federal funds for the project.
- covered the local 20% match (for Village of Harrison & City of Menasha) for the two feasibilities that were awarded from WisDOT.
WisDOT has provided 80% match for the feasibility studies currently occurring (2024).
WisDNR has approved $100,00 grant for the trail rehabilitation at Jefferson Park Trail (a main spine in the east/west corridor).
What is the difference between a Master Plan, Feasibility Study and Project Design??
A Trail Master Plan develops potential routes based on desired linkages and points of interest within the community. Community input along with conceptual large-scale connectivity is considered.
A Trail Feasibility Study evaluates potential geographical routes 1st developed conceptual and further reviews based on a number of factors (see below) to determine if a concept works to move forward with detailed design by identifying pros and cons of different routes and the extent of
challenges with each. A feasibility study also identifies funding options, potential project timelines, etc.
Trail and roadway user safety, trail utility and connectivity, project cost, environmental impacts, utility impacts, adjacent property impacts, drainage patterns, and existing and planned surrounding land use will all be factors evaluated in determining the feasibility of the segments of study.
If a project is determined feasible and the public support and funding is in place, then detailed design and engineering would occur next.
A Trail Engineering Plan then further analyzes the route determined in a feasibility study to ensure that all field conditions are addressed. This includes detailed topographic survey, utility coordination, geotechnical investigation, etc. The design is then further refined to take all field conditions into account.
What are the sections of the larger High Cliff Connection that were chosen for the Feasibility Studies & why?
The specific areas for the Feasibility Studies include the following:
- Old Highway Road (1.8 miles): Starting at the west at the Lake Park Rd/Fire Lane 8 intersection and ending on the east at the State Highway 114 intersection.
- Pigeon Road (0.64 miles): Starting on the south at the Blue Heron Court intersection and extending north to the State Highway 114 intersection.
- STH 114 (2 separate areas):
o from Oneida Street to Lake Park Road
o from CTH N to Pigeon Road
An additional area of study includes Manitowoc Road from Plank Road to Lake Park Road. The Manitowoc Road area is being evaluated as part of an effort to expand bike and pedestrian access within the local neighborhoods
and communities for future planning (this is not an immediate project as it involves multiple communities and would occur with roadway construction).
These study areas were chosen as a result of the High Cliff Connection Master Plan completed by East Central Wisconsin Planning Commission (ECWRPC). The Master Plan focused on identifying broad-scale routes for further study. The areas in the current feasibility studies include some of the sections of the overall Master Plan. The
What are the next steps after the completion of the Feasibility Studies?
After the feasibility studies are completed, the core team will evaluate in collaboration with local municipalities for prioritization of segment development. If trail sections are feasible, then the next step would be more detailed evaluation for funding and potential inclusion within municipal plans for future design and construction. It should be noted that funding, design, and construction of regional trail projects stretches over many years and is segmented into manageable sections.
is the project only focused on the trail between the two points?
Great question! Although the “High Cliff Connection” has a start point of the trestle bridge on the west and then the terminus of High Cliff State Park on the east, the project purpose is not limited to that singular spine.
Adding in the east/west trail sections will also add in additional connectivity for bike/pedestrian accommodations for local neighborhoods– which is critical for providing safe alternative transportation options for individuals throughout the Fox Cities area.
