RESTORATION PROJECT COMPLETED AT RIVERVIEW ATV PARK

A worker from Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy seeds the new 9-acre native pollinator buffer at Riverview ATV Park. Contributed photo

The views at Riverview ATV Park are going to be a bit more scenic for visitors next season when the park reopens for riding in spring 2021.

The Kewaunee County Land & Water Conservation Department as well as the Kewaunee County Promotions & Recreation Department have just wrapped up work on a restoration project at the park, which began in fall 2018, to address water quality, erosion, and habitat improvement. This initiative was made possible with the help of federal, state and community partners who worked to construct a pollinator buffer and wetland basins.

The final step in the restoration project was to seed the park's new nine-acre native pollinator buffer, and that was just completed with the help of Heim's Hillcrest Dairy, which donated its time and machinery. The pollinator buffer will benefit wildlife and pollinator species as well as prevent erosion and surface runoff.

Also, three wetland basins were created as part of the project along the western edge of the park's wooded ravine. These basins aim to boost environmental conservation efforts, including improving water quality, capturing and slowing water flow – serving an overall land area of more than 240 acres.

In addition, through a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant, rock was placed along the ravine corridor to stabilize the banks.

A special thank you is also being extended to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for a grant that provided the construction of the wetland basins and native seed as well as Bay Lake ATV Club, a not-for-profit friends group that volunteers to help with park improvements and maintenance.