Work begins to extend new Bear Creek Trail to Wisconsin Point

The city of Superior is planning a celebration of the completed Bear Creek Trail next week and started the process this week to extend the trail to Lot 1 on Wisconsin Point.

The Douglas County Land and Development Committee approved an easement across county-owned land for the extension; the measure still requires approval of the full county board.

The trail starts at the Osaugie Trail near Bear Creek Park and travels to Wisconsin Point Road. The extension would pick up on the other side of the road and create a path to Wisconsin Point.

Supervisor Alan Jaques said he had a chance to check out the trail and he thought it was nice.

“We’d seen about eight to 10 immature bald eagles right there, and I’m all for the easement,” Jaques said.

He said he knows the city was working on naming the trail, and he hoped the name would be easy enough so people could find it using a search engine like Google.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission launched the process in September to officially give the trail two names: "Bear Creek Trail" and the Ojibwe words meaning the same thing, "Makwa Ziibiins Miikana."

Linda Cadotte, the city’s parks, recreation and forestry director, encouraged members of the committee to weigh in on the proposed names, which are now in the public comment phase.

“The extension we’re hoping to begin the permitting on once the easement is approved by the county board. We’re hopeful we’ll be able to get the permits lined up to begin this project next year,” Cadotte said. “However, as you know, we did run into some challenges with the first two segments with the permitting.”

Committee Chair Keith Allen asked about plans to also extend the trail to Dutchmen’s Creek.

The extension to Dutchmen’s Creek would involve multiple property owners, and Cadotte said right now the goal is to focus on the extension that would reach Wisconsin Point’s beach.

“So, one piece at a time,” Cadotte said.

With the completion of the trail between Bear Creek Park and Wisconsin Point Road, the city is planning an official celebration at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Wisconsin Point Road end of the trail.