May 6, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA Wis. – The Viroqua Parks and Recreation Committee is exploring collaborative solutions to clean up an overgrown wooded area at Washington Park after neighboring homeowners asked the city to sell them the land to address a severe pest problem.
The issue dates back over a year when adjacent property owners initially approached the city about purchasing the 2.7 acre wooded section adjacent to the park. At the time the city paused the request to focus on finishing its comprehensive outdoor recreation plan. With that plan now finalized the neighboring homeowners renewed their request during the May 5 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting offering $10,000 dollars an acre to take the land off the city hands and clean up the brush themselves.
The conversation shifted toward a public private partnership when Alycann Taylor representing the outdoor recreation group Vernon Trails offered their volunteer services. Taylor noted the organization has experience clearing land and could build a sustainable hiking trail that connects Washington Park to the nearby Prairie Wind Park.
The neighboring homeowners explained that the unmaintained woods are harboring pests including catching over 30 skunks on their property last year. One neighboring homeowner noted that they simply want the area cleaned up to resolve the nuisance.
“If it was cleaned up I do not think we would have that problem,” said neighboring homeowner Richard Running. “We would like to purchase it and we clean it up ourselves and we get it done.”
Another neighboring homeowner outlined their financial proposal to the city to resolve the overgrown brush.
“Our thinking was if we would offer $10,000 dollars an acre based on a survey that we would pay for and we would pay to clean the land up,” said Running. “That would be a benefit to both.”
Park and Recreation Director Kale Proksch noted the city currently lacks the staff and resources to properly maintain the densely wooded acres. He presented the committee with multiple options for a park master plan that could include a variety of new amenities. Proksch suggested the city could restore the sand volleyball court or add a water fountain new benches and signs. He also presented ideas that utilize the steep terrain.
“Could we do a natural play hill set off the hill if we could encompass something like this,” said Proksch. “These are becoming more popular where they climb up and then slide down again.”
Proksch also suggested adding a pump track for bikes but noted he wants to avoid duplicating efforts with other organizations in the area. Additionally he highlighted a massive rock outcropping hidden within the overgrown trees that could be showcased if the brush was cleared.
“It is pretty impressive when you stand under it,” said Proksch. “If we could show more of that that might be something to the community.”
City Administrator Nate Torres cautioned that the city owns forested areas throughout Viroqua and needs to establish clear expectations for maintaining natural spaces before rushing into a land sale or a massive cleanup project.
“I think exploration is the right word and giving us time,” said Torres. “The resources we have at our disposal to maintain everything the way like we all ideally wanted it is a forested wooded natural area and what is best practices for that.”
During the public comment period resident Sonya Newenhouse strongly opposed selling public land to private owners with the possible exception of the steep rock outcropping on the site that poses a liability. She suggested neighbors and volunteers could thin the woods to make it less friendly for critters and more welcoming for hikers.
“I think it makes a lot of sense for property owners to possibly purchase that rock the rock outcropping,” said Newenhouse. “But please do not sell land unless it is the rock.”
Committee Chairperson Steve Willis stated he spoke with the neighbors and understood the core problem is simply the overgrowth allowing critters to live near homes. Willis noted he wants to find a way the city can resolve the pest issue without having to sell the land.
“I guess my only thought on that is, I do not know how we would go about selling land,” said Willis. “Do we just sell it to the adjacent property owner or do we open it up to the public that anybody gets to bid on it?”
Conversely committee member Todd Spaeth argued the terrain is too steep for park amenities without causing massive erosion and favored a sale.
“It is foolish not to sell the land and let them,” said Spaeth. “It is so steep you would have erosion problems.”
Committee member Cyndy Hubbard countered that professional trail builders know how to prevent those issues. Hubbard also offered a creative biological solution to clear the brush without deploying city staff. Hubbard asked if goats could be used to clear some the underbrush. Hubbard said she has seen goats used and they can be very effective in a short period of time.
“There is the ability to put a trail through the properties and then back around it could link up then to Prairie Wind,” said Taylor. “We could get creative and Vernon Trails can clear it out and I think we could clear it out this season.”
Proksch agreed that a partnership with Vernon Trails and a local friends group could help the city maintain the area without having to sell the property.
Embracing the idea of a partnership the committee decided to hold off on any immediate land sales. Committee member AJ Bergum supported forming a cleanup strategy first.
Bergum made a formal motion to explore options to clean up the wooded area in cooperation with the neighboring homeowners Vernon Trails and the city. Spaeth asked for a timeline to make sure progress is made. The committee asked an update from Park and Rec and Vernon Trails to report back on progress by the end of the year.
The motion was seconded by Hubbard and passed by a voice vote with Spaeth voting no.
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