Shawano officials are considering a purchase that would add another piece of the puzzle to the Wolf River Sturgeon Trail.
The trail would eventually link Sturgeon Park and Kuckuk Park. The city has been purchasing properties for the trail, which would run along the Wolf River, as they have become available for about 10 years.
City Administrator Brian Knapp said the trail is part of a long-range plan that could take years to complete.
“This could take 20 more years, maybe longer,” he said.
There are still six private properties between the two parks, including a property at 1219 S. River St. that the city is now looking to buy.
The Plan Commission on Wednesday recommended to the Common Council moving forward with an offer to purchase the property at a cost from $100,000 to $110,000, depending on appraisals of the property.
An appraisal done by the owner in September placed the value at $100,000.
Because the city wouldn’t need the entire property for the corridor, the section not needed for the trail would likely be put back on the market for sale.
“We don’t necessarily want to eliminate residential use of those areas,” City Administrator Brian Knapp said. “It would make sense that we split the property.”
Knapp said he was confident the remaining parcel would sell for a minimum of $50,000.
The city could be eligible for a Department of Natural Resources grant that would cover half the cost of whatever portion of the property the city retains.
The property in question is separated by just one other private property from Kuckuk Park. Four other properties lie between that property and what the city already owns.
“It would be landlocked until we have access to other properties,” Knapp said.
The city is also open to getting easements from other properties along the Wolf River for the trail, which wouldn’t require purchasing the entire properties. Much of the waterfront along those properties is wooded and apparently unused by the property owners.