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Rock County unveils draft Parks, Outdoor Recreation and Open Space plan; adoption targeted for November
Summary
Consultants presented a revised POROS plan required to maintain DNR grant eligibility. The plan inventories 22 county parks (~1,100 acres), reports park-use and revenue data, identifies service gaps in the northeast county, and recommends 40–75 acres of acquisition over 10–20 years to maintain current service levels.
Rock County staff and consultant Ben Rohrer of Van Du Wall presented an informational draft of the Parks, Outdoor Recreation and Open Space (POROS) Plan and told the Board the county will return in November with a resolution to adopt the plan and secure full Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant compliance.
John Trainor introduced the item and said the county must update the plan every five years to remain eligible for DNR grants. Ben Rohrer summarized the public outreach process—committee meetings, stakeholder interviews, park tours, an in-person open house and an online comment period—and said the draft reflects public and committee feedback.
Key data in the draft: the Rock County Park System includes 22 parks totaling approximately 1,100 acres; the county currently provides about 6.7 acres per 1,000 residents; consultants documented nearly 1,500 shelter rentals between 2017 and 2024 and roughly $170,000 in shelter rental revenue during that period. Rohrer said that compared with similar counties, Rock County operates more physical park locations but with less total acreage, indicating many smaller parks rather than a few large ones.
The draft maps service-area buffers and identifies a persistent gap in the northeast corner of the county. The plan projects a recommended acquisition of about 40 acres over 10 years and about 75 acres over 20 years to maintain the existing 6.7 acres-per-1,000-residents standard. Rohrer emphasized the Rock River Heritage Park acquisition raised the county’s level of service from about 5 acres per 1,000 residents to the current 6.7 rate.
Rohrer recommended improving park-user data collection beyond shelter rentals; he noted a park-evaluation tool developed in the 2020 plan that was used in the Rock River Heritage acquisition and that master plans could guide deeper investments at individual parks. The draft highlights trail connectivity priorities, including further pursuit of an east–west Ice Age Trail connection.
No formal action was taken; Rohrer said the county will return with a resolution in November to accompany the plan for DNR approval and invited board members to contact the county administrator with questions.
