A record crowd turned out for the Door County Land Trust’s annual membership gathering at the Liberty Grove Historical Society property adjacent to the new Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park in Ellison Bay on August 26.
The Grand View property, as it is referred to locally, was permanently protected by the Door County Land Trust in 2012 and was just one of the successes the group celebrated. Situated atop the Niagara escarpment, the new public park provided a spectacular view for the event.
Dan Burke, executive director for the Door County Land Trust, delivered the annual State of the Land Trust address and congratulated the Land Trust community on a significant year. In addition to the protection of the Grand View property, the Land Trust celebrated the preservation of nearly 500 acres at Shivering Sands in the town of Sevastopol, a large portion of the Camp Cuesta Girl Scout property at Kangaroo Lake in Baileys Harbor, and many others. He stressed the fact that these special places are now permanently protected and available for everyone to enjoy and that they could not have been preserved without the steadfast support of Land Trust donors and volunteers. He also thanked important partners such as the Town of Liberty Grove, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, the Department of Transportation’s Scenic Byways Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among many others.
Burke made special mention of the more than 100 volunteers who worked to make the 14th Annual Membership Gathering event a success. The event was chaired by Mary Dunworth and John and Kathy Campbell who were aided by a committee of dedicated volunteers. Live music was provided by local favorite, Highland Road, and delicious food by Alexander’s of Fish Creek.
Guests toured the new Grand View Park which will be outfitted with hiking trails and educational signage in the year to come. The evening concluded with a live auction and bucket raffle featuring original artwork from Christopher Jauquet, Brigitte Kozma, Gretchen Klug, Stephanie Trenchard, Larry and Judy Thoreson, Dale Vanden Houten, Nick Waldvogel, and Curt Wessel as well as a sail for 16 from Sail Door County, a kayak trip with Bay Shore Outfitters, an in-home wine tasting with Arvid Munson and a cooking class for 12 at the Savory Spoon Cooking School.
The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization working to preserveDoorCounty’s open spaces, scenic beauty and ecological integrity. The Land Trust has protected over 6,500 acres and is supported by over 2,500 annual dues-paying members. For a copy of the Land Trust’s new “Hiking Trails of the Door County Land Trust” map and to become a contributing supporter, visit: www.doorcountylandtrust.org.
