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STRAIGHT LAKE STATE PARK IMPROVEMENTS BEGIN

Contact(s): Missy Vanlanduyt, state parks capitol developmentcoordinator 608-266-7617 or Matt Densow, Straight Lake State Park, 715-483-3747
August 23, 2016

Straight Lake State Park improvements begin

Contact: Missy Vanlanduyt, state parks capitol development coordinator 608-266-7617 or Matt Densow, Straight Lake State Park, 715-483-3747

ST. CROIX FALLS, Wis. - The first phase of development at Straight Lake State Park will begin within the next two weeks, which will require temporary closures within the park.

Construction will begin next week on improvements to Staight Lake State Park, Wisconsin's newest state park.
Construction will begin next week on improvements to Staight Lake State Park, Wisconsin's newest state park.
Photo Credit: DNR

Crews will be constructing improved entrance roads and parking areas, 10 rustic campsites with vault toilets; a day-use picnic area with water and vault toilets, an accessible kayak launch and small accessible fishing pier, a small open-air shelter near a look-out spot over Rainbow Lake and 3 miles of new hiking trails.

The work is scheduled to begin the week of August 22 and will continue through the fall. The new facilities will be opened to the public next spring. While the work is being done, the existing entrance roads to the park will be closed along with the areas under construction. Access to the park will be available off 280th Avenue at the adjacent Straight Lake State Wildlife Area.

The work will not affect fall hunting at the park, as the areas under construction had already been identified as day-use areas closed to hunting and trapping. The closure will also not affect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that winds through the property.

Straight Lake State Park, located about 20 miles north of St. Croix Falls in Polk County, is Wisconsin's newest state park, established in 2002. The 2,000-acre park adjacent to the 1,325-acres Straight Lake State Wildlife Area and is currently only open to foot travel. The state Natural Resources Board approved a master plan for the two properties in 2009 that included this first phase of improvements. Later improvements may include the development of a group camp in the park.

Access to the park will also be improved in the near future as the Department of Natural Resources awarded a grant to the county to improve the road leading to the park.

For more information about the park, search the DNR website for keywords "Straight Lake."

Last Revised: Tuesday, August 23, 2016





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