JSD worked closely with the Village of Belleville on a Dane County Partners for Recreation and Conservation (PARC) grant for the design and development of bicycle and recreational trails, paths and park network. Excitingly, the grant was secured for $134,049, including a 50% matching grant, as Dane County and local communities were looking to invest in projects that strengthen their local economic development efforts through improvements to tourism, recreation and conservation.

The granted project, led by one of JSD’s project consultants, focused on helping the Village of Belleville kick-off its work to restore its lake for fishing and swimming. Detailed plans within the grant included the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge to connect Lake Belle View, the Sugar River and downtown Belleville to the Badger State Bike Trail. The grant also allowed for major improvements to the Community Park, including a boat launch and canoe take-out, parking lot expansion, and construction of nesting habitat for the Blanding’s turtle. A new trail separating the lake from the Sugar River will also improve the health of one of the top trout fishing streams in the state.