Dodge County, WI
Home MenuGold Star Memorial Trail - History and Timeline
History and Timeline of the Gold Star Memorial Trail
- 2013 - Mayville area citizens form a trail group and approach County with trail concept from Mayville to Horicon Marsh Education Center (preliminarily named Cardinal Connection).
- 2014 - Friends of Dodge County Parks, Inc. establishes trail committee and fund for trail donations.
- Local Gold Star Family requests the trail be built as a memorial to local fallen service members.
- Trail concept expanded to connect to Cities of Horicon and Beaver Dam and the Gold Star Memorial Trail name is adopted to honor the six local service members that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country since 1991 from Mayville, Horicon and Beaver Dam.
- Beaver Dam Community Hospital Foundation makes first major donation to kick off trail fundraising with a goal of $650,000 for trail design and development.
- 2015 - Nearly $100,000 of private donations received along with over $240,000 in State Stewardship and Federal Rec Trails grants.
- Donations begin to be received for future trail phases.
- 2016 - Initial $650,000 fundraising goal for Phase 1 reached thanks to a major donation and a major matching challenge grant from the Ted and Grace Bachhuber Foundation.
- 2017 - Engineering and design work completed for Phase 1.
- 2018 - Phase 1 Construction - the trail is open for use November 24th.
- 2018 - Phase 4 - Bike route through City of Horicon is approved, marked and open.
- 2019 - Final site restoration, memorial signage installation to fully complete Phase 1.
- 2019 - June 1 - Grand Opening/Dedication of Phase 1
- 2020-Present - Grant writing and fundraising for Phases 2-3
- 2022 - $1.1 Million Transportation Alternatives Program Grant Awarded for Phase 2 Design and Construction
- 2024-2025 - Phase 2A (City of Horicon Road Route) to be marked (Horicon)
- 2024-2025 - Phase 2B Final Design and Engineering
- 2024-2025 - Phase 3 (Beaver Dam to Wild Goose Trail) Feasibility and Preliminary Design
- 2024-2025 - Grant Writing for Phase 3 (Design, Real Estate, Construction)
- 2025-2026 - Phase 2B Construction (Anticipated)
- 2026-2027 - Phase 3 Design and Engineering (Pending Grant Award/Funding)
- 2027-2028 - Phase 3 Real Estate
- 2028-2030 - Phase 3 Construction (Pending Grant Award/Funding)
2019 - Route study for Phases 2-3
The design and construction of the full trail is mostly dependent on funding. The goal for completion of the entire trail to Beaver Dam is 2030, however, the trail could be completed sooner or later depending on how quickly the necessary funding and real estate are obtained.