State Park Land Grab
DNR Request Opens Door to Sell Off State Park Land
The Natural Resources Board published the agenda for its Jan. 24 meetingand added a DNR request signed Jan. 8, 2018 which proposes ignoring the rules regarding State Parks Master Plans written before 1996. It would have been illegal to amend the park master plan since the ordinance has the force of law (which FBRF pointed out in a letter to the Board from our attorney). We thought the Governor's, the City of Sheboygan's, local politicians' and Kohler's deviousness and collusion couldn't get worse. It has. Now, an agency asks to change the rules to accommodate giveaways of our land to well-connected businesses, Wisconsin residents’ land, air and water are under assault and we have to fight back. Read more and get names of people to contact here.
Kohler golf course could set precedent making any state park fair game If the state approves using state park lands for a privately owned development, we are likely crossing a line in which there is no turning back. Almost any state park, forest, wildlife refuge will be fair game for future development. ~ Michael McFadzen, Policy Chairperson for Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP). There are over 80 Friends groups.
Proposed golf development contradicts Kohler-Andrae State Park’s purpose . According to PEOPLE, published by Kohler Organization, Dec. 30, 1965: “In fact,” Kohler said, “the land was originally acquired by the company for this very purpose, to preserve this very interesting area just as nature left it and to place it at the disposal of the public as a recreational center that can be utilized by all for generations to come.”
Natural Resources Board Meeting Highlights, Jan 24, 2018
The state DNR board declined to grant the agency blanket approval to change pre-1996 State Park master plans. Link to meeting audio. ( at 4:41 listen to the Request for Approval to change pre-1996 State Park master plans. At 5:43 listen to Kurt Thiede extol the virtues of the Sand Valley Golf Course)
DNR Board asked to STOP the proposed changes to our state park master plan. The plan cannot be amended for Kohler’s objectives as a matter of law. FBRF has also asked for an audit of state employee's hours on this private project. And the DNR has misrepresented the impacts of the Kohler easement requests. 9/27/17
Letter to Kohler Co. from DNR, from March 2013
No more traffic through state park! "The Department's apprehension to any proposed relocation of your northerly guest entrance stems from serious concerns we have about traffic backups that may occur for both our state park guests, as well as your clientele. Park traffic can be very heavy at times...."
Feb. 28 Natural Resources Board Meeting
The DNR staff lied, misled and omitted significant information in its push to give Kohler our important Kohler Andrae State Park land. Here is the link to the hearing. The Land Swap agenda item begins at 45.36
Wisconsin DNR and Kohler plan land swap - Hoping to overcome opposition to a golf course along Lake Michigan, Kohler Co. and the DNR have struck a tentative deal to trade properties that will give Kohler ownership of a small parcel in Kohler-Andrae State Park next to the planned course. 2/16/18
DNR Decides Kohler Andrae State Park Land is No Longer Needed for Conservation Purposes - Sign a Petition
The land swap will allow the DNR to bypass amending the Kohler Andre State Park master plan and effectively take away the public’s opportunity to comment at a public hearing. By creating a smoke screen to conceal the real issues, the DNR is flaunting the land swap as good deal. This is NOT a good deal for the residents of Wisconsin. The DNR is using their authority to take away YOUR State Park land.
"State Park Giveaway?", James Bucholz, former Kohler-Andrae State Park Superintendent for 27 years. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/9
Letter to Natural Resources Board from the DNR's Cathy Stepp: Recommends that a master plan amendment process be initiated. 6-24-17
Former superintendent of Kohler-Andrae state park Jim Buchholz:
"The DNR has no right and nor any responsibility to “give away” 4-plus acres of publicly-owned state park land to anyone, especially to a “for-profit” business..." "The DNR’s own Bureau of Endangered Species has termed these rare wetlands (Interdunal wetlands) as the rarest, most irreplaceable habitat/ecosystems in the state of Wisconsin."
Deed - Kohler's gift to the state, 1965 - There are covenants on the deed that read as follows: —To preserve the natural beauty of an unique area along the westerly shore of Lake Michigan. —To provide the people of the State of Wisconsin with an interesting and naturally beautiful recreational area. —To recognize the contributions to the conservation of Wisconsin’s natural resources made by John Michael Kohler and his family. By accepting this deed of gift the State of Wisconsin had to agree to: 1. The property shall be used for state park and public recreational purposes. 2. The property shall be know officially as JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER STATE PARK. Now they want to take up to 20 acres back?
Letter to NRB Chairman - Don't take State Parks for private developers
DNR Request Opens Door to Sell Off State Park Land
The Natural Resources Board published the agenda for its Jan. 24 meetingand added a DNR request signed Jan. 8, 2018 which proposes ignoring the rules regarding State Parks Master Plans written before 1996. It would have been illegal to amend the park master plan since the ordinance has the force of law (which FBRF pointed out in a letter to the Board from our attorney). We thought the Governor's, the City of Sheboygan's, local politicians' and Kohler's deviousness and collusion couldn't get worse. It has. Now, an agency asks to change the rules to accommodate giveaways of our land to well-connected businesses, Wisconsin residents’ land, air and water are under assault and we have to fight back. Read more and get names of people to contact here.
Kohler golf course could set precedent making any state park fair game If the state approves using state park lands for a privately owned development, we are likely crossing a line in which there is no turning back. Almost any state park, forest, wildlife refuge will be fair game for future development. ~ Michael McFadzen, Policy Chairperson for Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP). There are over 80 Friends groups.
Proposed golf development contradicts Kohler-Andrae State Park’s purpose . According to PEOPLE, published by Kohler Organization, Dec. 30, 1965: “In fact,” Kohler said, “the land was originally acquired by the company for this very purpose, to preserve this very interesting area just as nature left it and to place it at the disposal of the public as a recreational center that can be utilized by all for generations to come.”
Natural Resources Board Meeting Highlights, Jan 24, 2018
The state DNR board declined to grant the agency blanket approval to change pre-1996 State Park master plans. Link to meeting audio. ( at 4:41 listen to the Request for Approval to change pre-1996 State Park master plans. At 5:43 listen to Kurt Thiede extol the virtues of the Sand Valley Golf Course)
DNR Board asked to STOP the proposed changes to our state park master plan. The plan cannot be amended for Kohler’s objectives as a matter of law. FBRF has also asked for an audit of state employee's hours on this private project. And the DNR has misrepresented the impacts of the Kohler easement requests. 9/27/17
Letter to Kohler Co. from DNR, from March 2013
No more traffic through state park! "The Department's apprehension to any proposed relocation of your northerly guest entrance stems from serious concerns we have about traffic backups that may occur for both our state park guests, as well as your clientele. Park traffic can be very heavy at times...."
Feb. 28 Natural Resources Board Meeting
The DNR staff lied, misled and omitted significant information in its push to give Kohler our important Kohler Andrae State Park land. Here is the link to the hearing. The Land Swap agenda item begins at 45.36
Wisconsin DNR and Kohler plan land swap - Hoping to overcome opposition to a golf course along Lake Michigan, Kohler Co. and the DNR have struck a tentative deal to trade properties that will give Kohler ownership of a small parcel in Kohler-Andrae State Park next to the planned course. 2/16/18
DNR Decides Kohler Andrae State Park Land is No Longer Needed for Conservation Purposes - Sign a Petition
The land swap will allow the DNR to bypass amending the Kohler Andre State Park master plan and effectively take away the public’s opportunity to comment at a public hearing. By creating a smoke screen to conceal the real issues, the DNR is flaunting the land swap as good deal. This is NOT a good deal for the residents of Wisconsin. The DNR is using their authority to take away YOUR State Park land.
"State Park Giveaway?", James Bucholz, former Kohler-Andrae State Park Superintendent for 27 years. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/9
Letter to Natural Resources Board from the DNR's Cathy Stepp: Recommends that a master plan amendment process be initiated. 6-24-17
Former superintendent of Kohler-Andrae state park Jim Buchholz:
"The DNR has no right and nor any responsibility to “give away” 4-plus acres of publicly-owned state park land to anyone, especially to a “for-profit” business..." "The DNR’s own Bureau of Endangered Species has termed these rare wetlands (Interdunal wetlands) as the rarest, most irreplaceable habitat/ecosystems in the state of Wisconsin."
Deed - Kohler's gift to the state, 1965 - There are covenants on the deed that read as follows: —To preserve the natural beauty of an unique area along the westerly shore of Lake Michigan. —To provide the people of the State of Wisconsin with an interesting and naturally beautiful recreational area. —To recognize the contributions to the conservation of Wisconsin’s natural resources made by John Michael Kohler and his family. By accepting this deed of gift the State of Wisconsin had to agree to: 1. The property shall be used for state park and public recreational purposes. 2. The property shall be know officially as JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER STATE PARK. Now they want to take up to 20 acres back?
Letter to NRB Chairman - Don't take State Parks for private developers
