Posted: May 18, 2009

Travel anywhere on Brookfield's Greenway Trail System, and you'll see bikers, runners and walkers enjoying the pathways that cut through the city and connect its parks and other open spaces.

And trail users want to see the system continue, and expand, too. A recent survey in conjunction with the city's 2035 Master Plan revealed strong interest in pursuing "accelerated completion" of the system.

As work gets under way on three new trail segments this year, those behind the trails continue to work toward its expansion across Brookfield.

"It is a wonderful amenity," said Patricia Haukohl, a Waukesha County supervisor and chairwoman of the city Greenway Committee.

Building trails a priority

The city Parks and Open Space Plan has long called for a series of trails throughout Brookfield, but an update to that plan in 2001 moved the Greenway Trail System to the front burner, Parks and Recreation Director Bill Kolstad said.

Since 2003, the city has completed about 9 miles of off-road trails in the city, more than half of what is expected when the trail system is built out.

Kolstad said the system is designed to serve as a connection to parks and other public facilities in Brookfield, as well as connect to other regional trail systems, including the Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail and Waukesha County Fox River Trail.

"So many people are enjoying our walkways now, I think connecting them is a great idea," Haukohl said.

Progress seen

When the Greenway Trail plan was adopted in 2002, the city saw it as a multiple-year plan that likely would take more than a decade to complete, Kolstad said.

The plan prioritized construction of trail segments into three categories: high priority portions were meant to be completed within five years, medium priority portions within five to 10 years, and low priority portions in 10 years or more.

Since 2003, 22 of the 24 high-priority segments and seven of the 15 medium-priority segments have been completed, Kolstad said.

Since the construction of off-road trails often involves going through residential neighborhoods, trail selection "does have to go through a public process," Kolstad said.

Haukohl said response has generally been positive to the trails, although some disputes popped up a few years ago when the city was working on the segment near Kinsey Park on Brookfield's southeast side.

"We really do try to work with the neighbors to make them happy with the placement of the trails," she said.

Taxpayers don't pay

Money for the trails comes from wireless communications companies that lease antenna space from the city on water towers and other structures. Those leases have brought in more than $330,000 annually over the last few years, and that money goes toward construction and land acquisition costs for the trail segments.

The city also receives money for the trails through grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Kolstad said.

This year, the city plans to construct 6,300 feet of off-road trail on the west side of Pilgrim Parkway from Gebhardt Road south to Bluemound Road as part of the Dousman Trail, which links the historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn to Wirth Park to the west.

Brookfield also plans to add 1,700 feet of trail from the rear parking lot of Wirth Park west to Pheasant Drive, as well as finish work on the 4,000-foot path segment connecting to and through Mary Knoll Park.

Haukohl said she wants to continue to work to connect the city's trail system with other systems in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.

"I think it's great to have these trails, but I want to see them done right," she said.

 

Alan Hamari can be reached at (262) 446-6601.

FYI

Trail rules and safety:

• Trails are open from dawn to dusk seven days a week.

• Motorized vehicles are not permitted.

• Keep to the right, and communicate before passing. Let other trail users know when you are approaching from behind. Signal by saying "passing on your left," and give others time to respond.

• Maintain control and safe speed. Adjust speed for other users, traffic and trail conditions.

• Pedestrians have the right of way. Bicycle riders and in-line skaters yield to all other trail users.

• Share the trail and be courteous. Respect others, regardless of their mode of travel. Don't trespass or cut through adjacent properties or yards.

• Stop for cross traffic and obey signs.

• Respect the trail environment. Do not disturb wildlife, plants or wildflowers. Pick up litter.

• Keep pets on leashes, and remove pet waste.

• Observe park rules.

AT A GLANCE

A closer look at the Greenway Trail System, a combination of on- and off-road paths that run through Brookfield:

Rolling Meadows Trail

ACCESS: Rolling Meadows Park

LENGTH: 1.7 miles (interim route)

DESTINATIONS: Wisconsin Hills Middle School, Bluemound Road shopping/dining

Deer Creek Trail

ACCESS: Krueger Park, Mary Knoll Park, Endicott Park

LENGTH: 5+ miles (interim route); 1.25 miles planned

DESTINATIONS: Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail, Brookfield Square, Elm Grove Village Park

Dousman Trail

ACCESS: Dousman Stagecoach Inn

LENGTH: 1.7 miles; 0.6 miles planned

DESTINATIONS: Wirth Park, Pilgrim Park Middle School

Lilly Heights Trail

ACCESS: Lilly Heights Park

LENGTH: 1.1 miles (interim route); 0.6 miles planned

DESTINATIONS: Capitol Drive shopping/dining, Brookfield East High School

Underwood Creek Trail

ACCESS: Mound Zion Park

LENGTH: 3.75+ miles

DESTINATIONS: Wirth Park, Dixon Elementary School

Beverly Hills Trail

ACCESS: Mitchell Park, Wirth Park, Beverly Hills Park

LENGTH: 3.5 miles

DESTINATIONS: Fox Brook County Park, Sendik's Towne Centre, Brookfield Academy

Village Center Trail

ACCESS: Brookfield Road/Riverview Drive (future), Wirth Park

LENGTH: 1.4 miles (interim route), 0.4 miles planned

DESTINATIONS: Brookfield Elementary School, Wirth Park

Civic Center Trail

ACCESS: Wirth Park, Endicott Park

LENGTH: 3.3 miles

DESTINATIONS: City Hall, Brookfield Public Library, Brookfield Central High School