Dec. 20, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. — After years of community investment in trails, disc golf and winter recreation on the Viroqua VFW’s wooded acreage, a potential land sale has thrust residents and local leaders into a dilemma. The question is whether a beloved public-use space can be preserved when a private sale promises badly needed cash.
As we reported previously the issue has simmered since a packed city meeting this fall where supporters urged the city to collaborate with nonprofit Vernon Trails to keep the roughly 40-acre parcel in public use. Vernon Trails leaders said the organization and volunteers have poured thousands of hours into building and maintaining amenities that residents say define Viroqua’s outdoor culture. Volunteers pointed to youth mountain biking, winter fat biking, hiking, snowshoeing and an 18-hole disc golf course that draws visitors from across the Midwest and brings tourism dollars to the local economy.
At that meeting residents and business owners described the parcel as irreplaceable green space inside city limits that underpins Viroqua’s identity and quality of life. City officials acknowledged strong public sentiment for preservation and cautioned that budgets are tight and any arrangement must be workable and legal and fair to the VFW, which owns the land and faces financial pressures.
Mayor Justin Running told residents the city’s intention is to participate in a proposal that keeps this a public property and nothing else and he framed that as consistent with what Viroqua values most about itself. He said the land has functioned as public space for decades and the community’s everyday use of those woods has shaped local life from family walks to youth sports and winter trails and he thanked the VFW for years of generosity in making that access possible.
After that meeting the parties moved into negotiations. The city council subsequently held a closed session with Vernon Trails leadership and both agreed to commit to financially supporting an offer to buy the property. In subsequent discussions city leaders and Vernon Trails advanced a joint approach focused on a fair offer that would help the VFW meet its financial needs while permanently preserving public access. Vernon Trails signaled it would shoulder significant fundraising and the city explored a partnership role. Vernon Trails leaders framed the proposal as a way to honor veterans with a lasting legacy on land that has been open to the public for generations. Running publicly emphasized that the strongest community projects in Viroqua are collaborative and he pointed residents to that track record. He said the city is looking at purchase, lease or phased approaches including first right of refusal and that the point is to keep the woods available to everyone while respecting the VFW’s position.
The exact details of the offer from the city and Vernon Trails are not known. In an interview VFW Commander Keith Yahn said they also received a private offer, but said both offers were not enough for the club to sell. He said the post is still in the process of sending out information to their full membership about what has transpired, but they are still considering private offers, or even listing the property with a realtor. He said the parcel borders the golf course is wooded and desirable and that listing it with a realtor could draw higher bids. Yahn did not say a short term lease that had been discussed in previous meetings to buy time for more negotiations was off the table, but went on to say the post has time, they are under no pressure to sell quickly.
Yahn emphasized that the VFW’s position reflects the post’s reality. Leadership is aging and membership is down and the post worries about losing its charter if numbers fall further which would transfer assets to state or national VFW control. He said proceeds from a sale could support ongoing community programs the VFW funds including scholarships youth baseball and K‑9 units.
For Vernon Trails the public case is moral and economic. The group notes the land has functioned as public space since the 1960s and that community members including the nonprofit and disc golf volunteers have transformed it into one of the city’s better outdoor amenities. Alycann Taylor with Vernon Trails said she does not fault the VFW for treating the land as a business asset and that Vernon Trails hopes the post will consider a collaboration with the city.
There does seem to be a disconnect however in the goals of all the interested parties. Vernon Trails recently posted on social media their optimism that their offer is still under consideration and encouraged support of the VFW stating: “They (VFW) are taking that offer under consideration, along with what we believe might be other offers. Difference being, our offer/proposal gives the VFW the financial support they are looking for, and keeps the property open for the public to enjoy. The other offers would be to private entities or developers. At this point, we feel we have done all that we can. I do ask all of you to stop by the VFW, grab some food and drink, tell them Vernon Trails sent you, and remind them again how much the land means to all of you. Perhaps these actions, will encourage the VFW to continue to work in partnership and collaboration with Vernon Trails and the City of Viroqua.”
In a phone interview with Mayor Running he underscored that the city’s interest is focused on preserving the land as public space and not developing it. He has been candid about fiscal constraints and said the city would likely not be able to compete with commercial or retail real estate prices. He has framed the effort as a collaboration that could preserve access and support the VFW’s long term viability.
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