What we're looking at.

We already know that the DNR can barely sustain the small buildings that are currently in the park. How could they ever cover the cost of operating the new proposed buildings? If it were not for the thousands of volunteer hours served by the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park, the park would look poorly maintained . As of now, they can hardly keep up with cleaning the restrooms. 

This is what you will find on the DNR website. Notice that overcrowding of the parking area is already a problem that needs to be resolved.  https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fl/PropertyPlanning/CentralSandHills

CENTRAL SAND HILLS REGIONAL MASTER PLANNING

As such, another opportunity is to provide a modern A-22 DRAFT April 2020
visitor and interpretive center that could provide both extensive educational experiences as well as sitting and viewing areas of the lake and surrounding bluffs. The center could also include a café, gift shop, and other services for visitors.
The large crowds present issues with overuse of areas, the availability of parking, picnic tables and grills as well as addressing trash disposal and recycling. Crowding, which was noted as a challenge in the 1989 master plan, can also exacerbate conflicts among visitors and cause resource impacts that consume considerable staff time and resources.

DRAFT April 2020

If the five structures are built as proposed, the fans to operate the make-up air and air conditioning would be heard echoing across the lake. The fact that they are designed as separate buildings makes them the least efficient. The possibility of blinding sun reflection off of all that glass while paddling on the lake should be noted. Do you want to see and hear these from across the lake?

As for the Interpretive Center, the building model should be based on long term sustainability and PHIUS Passive Building practices and powered by solar. Why should future generations have to pay to heat and cool these buildings?

“Back in the late 70’s when I began my rock climbing forays to DL I could deal with the noisy beaches as I knew people were at least getting out to see this beautiful park. Yes, there were buildings too close to the shores but I considered them part of history and as they were conservatively built with local wood and stone and fit into the overall scene, I didn’t complain (much). Then, when I became a professional climbing guide and created the first AMGA accredited climbing school in the Midwest, little did I realize I would slowly teach more about the natural environment than I did the reason to climb. I consider any new building (especially large as are proposed) a blight upon the natural landscape. It would be like building condos at Walden Pond or a large resort at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier beneath the Columbia Icefield. These were fortunately prohibited by concerned people like us. I can only imagine my hero Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak (Sauk leader Black Hawk) shaking his head in despair if he were to see what we’ve done to this landscape. Please help us save what is left of the natural environment surrounding Devil’s Lake.” PK