The boat landing at Pine Lake Park will be moved during work by a DNR crew during October. The present ramp angles to the right in the picture above. The new ramp will go straight to the north. The Park will be closed during the work.
Pine Lake Park, north of Baldwin, will be closed for most or all of October for construction of a new boat landing and driveway configuration.
According to Dave Larson, Operations Manager of St. Croix County Parks, the work will be done by a Department of Natural Resources Regional Field Operations (RFO) construction crew from Black River Falls that will arrive Monday, October 1. The crew will consist of from three to five workers including two equipment operators and a dump truck operator. The DNR's contribution has been valued at about $15,000 in labor and equipment.
Work will include a new ramp that will be built to the left of the present ramp. A new driveway configuration will be built, including a loop that will allow drivers to pull their vehicle and trailer around and then allow them to back straight up down the new ramp.
Larson is hoping that after the roadway settles a portion of the driveway can be paved next year. The original plan called for paving the park's driveway in three installments over three years. After paving the loop to the ramp the first year, the second year the road from the park entrance to the fork would be paved. The third year the road from the fork to the picnic area would be paved.
Between the entry and exit area of the boat ramp will be parking for two cars and three vehicles pulling boat trailers. A handicapped parking spot will be located adjacent to the boat ramp back up. Overflow parking will be along the other fork in the park's road, south of the picnic shelter.
The plan provides for boulders to be used to prevent access by vehicles to grassy areas not meant for vehicles.
A state grant for the work is in the form of labor and equipment, said Larson. The county will provide materials and has paid for the engineering.
The park will be gated and closed during the duration of the ramp improvement work, said Larson. The construction work will necessitate stockpiles of rock and dirt as well as use of heavy equipment, and Larson said that closing the park to additional traffic is to prevent accidents and the necessity of the equipment operators having to avoid other vehicles.
Other recent improvements at the park have included two fishing platforms that are reached by stairs and rip rapping the shoreline.
"Thank you for your cooperation and patience during construction," said Larson. He said questions about the work can be directed to the St. County Parks Department by phone, 715-684-2874, ext. 102, or e-mail at davel@co.saint-croix.wi.us.
