Protecting Devil's Lake Image

 Here's the page on the architect's website that explains the 4 site options that were studied and the conceptual designs that go with them:  Notice that the drawings don't include glare off the windows or any HVAC equipment that would be needed to heat and cool those large structures. Also, they don't even show our native quartzite in the landscaping. 

GWWO Architects | News & Insights | Conceptual Designs of Devil's Lake State Park Interpretive Education Center Unveiled (gwwoinc.com)

This page calls out the three groups who came together to decide on "Talus" (Friends, Concessions, and DNR). Although there were a few climbing members originally on the donation marketing committee, it does NOT include any climber's groups. 

Here is the page on the architect's website that goes into detail about Talus:

GWWO Architects | Projects | Devil's Lake State Park Interpretive Education Center (gwwoinc.com)

Here is the page where they talk about Site Selection (This is not a Site Selection Study):

GWWO Architects | News & Insights | Letting Your Resource Take Center Stage: A Guide to Thoughtful Site Selection for Interpretive Centers (gwwoinc.com)

Notice that it does not include the old Jacobs brothers farm property at the top of Sky Hi road.

Note in the article about site selection, they emphasize that it's important to study the site at the beginning of the design process by doing a "site selection study". 

Here's an article about why it's so important to do "Programming ''.   

GWWO Architects | News & Insights | Driving Without a Map: Why an Architectural Program is Essential (gwwoinc.com)

Also needed will be the EIS (Environmental Impact Study):

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/issue_briefs/2023/environment_and_natural_resources/ib_wepa_2023_11_27#:~:text=The%20Wisconsin%20Environmental%20Policy%20Act%20%28WEPA%29%2C%20set%20forth,significantly%20affects%20the%20quality%20of%20the%20human%20environment.

We've asked the Friends group for these specific studies and have NOT received this information.

What many of us seasoned Devil's Lake climbers would like to see: 

We know there needs to be an upgrade of the old CCC buildings at the North Shore.  Using a Deep Energy Retrofit these buildings could be rebuilt to keep them looking historical, make them a bit larger and use close to zero energy. This would fit into the wishes of the Friends need for a facilities near the water and they could remain historical looking. 

Now let's get real. We don't want any more crowds near the lake shore.  We would like to see the Welcome/Interpretive at the top of the hill at the west end of Sky Hi Road at the junction of S. Shore Road at the site of the old Jacobs Brothers farm which the state purchased. A historic looking net zero energy barn could be built using the native quartzite near where the original barn stood. This would fit into the landscape and allow for a trail that provides a view across the lake from the top of the west bluff.

This could incorporate anything needed as a Welcome/Interpretive center.  It would allow for growing needs of parking and room for a PV solar array to power the center so tax payers aren't paying utilities for generations. 

We would also like representatives of the local indigenous Ho-Chunk Nation to be part of the planning process as it is their land that we are utilizing.  PK has been actively seeking their view points on the subject.