$500K Grant Secured To Restore Cliffside Park

RACINE COUNTY, WI — A $590,000 grant will allow a local partnership to restore wetlands inside Cliffside Park to near pre-settlment conditions, county officials said Thursday morning.

Racine County and Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) will be partnering to restore wetlands inside Cliffside Park near the shore of Lake Michigan in Caledonia. Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network helped secure a DNR grant that provides 100 percent of the funds necessary to do the wetland restoration from the Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust.

The restoration of this wetland inside Cliffside Park will provide an improved natural area for public recreation, slow soil erosion, remove invasive species, provide habitat for unique species and improve water quality to Lake Michigan.

“It is great to see public-private partnerships like this one working together to advance the environmental needs of our County,” County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said. “The restored wetlands will leave a legacy for residents and visitors to Cliffside Park to enjoy for future generations – and at no cost to Racine County taxpayers.” The agreement also provides a conservation easement on the 40-acre area so that it will be protected in perpetuity.

Research and analysis work will begin this spring and restoration work will begin this fall and into 2019. Mandated maintenance will take place over the next 10 years.

Submitted Photos, Published With Permission