Duck Creek Conservation Corridor expected to boost outdoor recreation in Howard
HOWARD (WLUK) -- Local and state leaders are celebrating a deal that brings more land and water into public use.
The Village of Howard recently acquired the 113-acre site next to the Ken Euers Nature Area in Green Bay.
From a lone mallard duck on a log to a fresh family of waterfowl paddling nearby, the waters of Green Bay near Duck Creek have a lot to offer.
"Spring's a great time of year because there's so many birds passing through," said Paul Evert, Howard Village Administrator. "You're down here, and it's sort of alive with different, a really wide-variety of birds."
Evert says the site is now in the hands of the public. He says the cul-de-sac at the end of Hurlbut Street may be one place to park.
"That's where we'll have to be looking at maybe some kind of boardwalk to get people in to have a better look or an observation shelter," he said.
Because a lot of the area is wet, officials say those who want to visit should use the Deerfield Docks Kayak Launch nearby.
The cost of the new property is $280,000. Ducks Unlimited, the Fox Valley Community Foundation, the Village of Howard and Bird City Green Bay are paying for half of it. A DNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant will cover the other half.
DNR Community Financial Assistance Bureau Director Jim Ritchie says he's impressed.
"I think it's beautiful," Ritchie said. "I'm really excited about the property and the fact that this has been kind of the missing piece. It's a missing link between public ownership on either side, with the City of Green Bay, DNR lands just to the north, and now it's a contiguous public ownership that's available for recreation and habitat purposes."
"There's a substantial amount of shoreline, miles that are in public trust, and will be preserved for future generations to enjoy, and for our migratory friends to pass through and stop and re-nourish when they have to," said Evert.
Officials say the plan has been at least 10 years-in-the-making.
They expect more birds and waterfowl to visit in the coming seasons.
