Eland to build trailhead, upgrade park

A new trail head in Eland is in the works to lead to the Mountain Bay Trail.

The Eland Village Board is planning on constructing an eight-foot landscape pathway that directs to the trail. Included with the pathway will be additional parking and trailer parking. With the pathway being built, the village is also planning on upgrading the ballpark that adjoins the trail. In the plans, the ballpark will have upgraded bathrooms, a pavilion with a grill, new playground equipment and a water fountain. Included with the playground would be rubber chips.

According to Eland Board President-elect Shane Larson, Shawano County approached the board about building bathrooms on the trail. The Mountain Bay Trail and the Wiouwash State Trail meet in Eland. Larson mentioned that this was the only spot in the state where two state trails connect.

After talking with Shawano County, Larson and the rest of the board devised a list of things that they would like to get done.

The trail head and upgrades to the ball park are being built in order to attract those coming off of the trail to use the park, as well as the communities around Eland to use it.

“We are hoping that it brings more people in the community together,” said Eland Village Clerk Marnie Osterbrink.

According to Osterbrink, this project was supposed to get started last year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the village waited.

The village board had preliminary talks of applying for a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. After having the talks with them about the grant, they ultimately decided not to apply. If they had applied for the grant, the village would have had to push their starting time on construction back six to 10 months. Contracts for the building are still being bid on, but the village is hoping to get started on construction as soon as May and finish by the time softball and baseball season start in June.

The board has raised money through donations and fundraisers. So far, with the Badger Amateur Baseball Association running fundraisers and collecting donations for the project from the community and local businesses, the village has raised around $160,000.

The total monetary goal for the village is to raise $260,000. The final $100,000 that needs to be raised will go towards final field improvements and lights at the ballpark.

Since everything is 100% donated, taxpayers will not be affected by the upgrades.

“Tax payers will not be affected by the upgrades at the park,” said Larson. “We are already in talks with some local businesses like Hansen Sanitation. They will pump our new facilities for free in exchange for free advertising on our outfield wall.”

The Wittenberg Village Board sent, April 7, a letter of support to the village of Eland to construct a landscape pathway for the Mountain Bay Trail.

The village of Eland is collecting support letters from local businesses and close communities for the construction.

“I don’t see a problem with sending the letter,” said Barb Bucholz, Wittenberg Village Board trustee.

The board voted unanimous in support of sending the letter.

According to Osterbrink and Larson, the Eland community has a strong affliction with both baseball and softball. Upgrading the ball park would continue to keep this tradition running strong.

“We have had kids signing up to play youth leagues every year,” said Larson. “I hope that upgrading the park will bring more youth out to play ball.”

Larson mentioned that he has taken input from the Eland community, businesses and surrounding communities to make the plan.

“It has been really fun working with Shawano County and with the community to get everyone’s opinions on what we can do to upgrade our community park,” said Larson.