Parks &Tourism
Stevens Point has a vast network of parks and green spaces, and serves as an integral base for a healthy community. The Stevens Point tourism community has been a leader in the Wisconsin Travel Green initiative. In addition to supporting our existing resources, the Parks and Tourism Subcommittee hopes to build an even stronger green community.
Subcommittee Chairs: Dennis Yockers, Kathy Schwartz
Parks &Tourism Subcommittee Recommendations (click PDF below)
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| parkstrsmminutes2-25-08.doc | |
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Thursday, December 13, 2007 Minutes
Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
340 Division Street N
Stevens Point, WI
Present: Dennis Yockers, Todd Ernster, Jo Seiser, Tom Schrader, Kim Beckham, Lindsey Wood, Kathy Schwartz, Tom Barrett, Ron Zimmerman, Sara Brish
Excused: John Jury, Les Werner, George Rogers
1. Introductions: Co-chair Dennis Yockers welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. He then shared both the City of Marshfield’s eco-municipality’s resolution and a document delineating the sub-committee’s responsibilities as it relates to getting the resolution passed.
2. Inventory of eco-friendly attractions, points of interest, events, and tourism related businesses wasdistributed. Upon review the Olson Experimental Farm and the Plover River were added to the existing list. The sub-committee discussed the fact that many of our assets are outside of the actual city limits, but compliment those within the city proper, and should not be excluded in any promotion of the area. It was noted that in addition to this information being available in print form, that it is also online and accessible via the Internet. T. Barrett noted that this is the case with the SPACVB’s website and linkage between the City of Stevens Point’s website should allow visitors to search both locations.
3. Wisconsin Department of Tourism/Travel Green meeting According to K. Schwarz the Innkeepers Association has set the date of January 7th, 2008 for representatives of the Department of Tourism and their advertising agency to visit Stevens Point to solicit feedback from certified businesses as to ways to expand and improve the program.
4. Other Co-Chair Yockers requested that task force liaison T. Barrett determine the next action steps for the sub-committee to accomplish. To this end, Barrett will ask direction at the upcoming meeting on December 19th. Specifically, does the sub-committee need to craft a mission statement and an action plan that will ultimately become recommendations for the resolution? If this is the case T. Ernster suggested it include a recommendation to continue a strong urban forestry program. T. Barrett will communicate the results of the task force meeting to the sub-committee via e-mail.
5. Adjourment was at 12:51pm
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
340 Division Street N
Stevens Point, WI
Present: Todd Ernster, Jo Seiser, John Jury, George Rogers, Tom Schrader, Kim Beckham, Lindsey Wood, Kathy Schwartz, Tom Barrett
Excused: Dennis Yockers Ron Zimmerman, Sara Brish, Les Werner
Co-chair K. Schwarz welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.
Barrett distributed the Eco-Municipality Kick-off Brainstorming document and explained how the program went to those sub-committee members who where unable to attend the event at Ben Franklin. The group then focused on the Parks & Tourism feedback and addressed each bullet point individually.
Create
The annual birding festival would be broadened to include and promote nature and wildlife viewing in addition to birding. Barrett explained that the CVB was already working with the third annual Prairie Chicken Festival and the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society on their birding trail. Additionally he passed around a print advertisement that the CVB is placing in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Central Sands Birding Guide.
The group then addressed the issue of having more family Eco-educational opportunities. L. Wood will explore possibilities through UWSP to address this suggestion.
Regarding a better connection between “wellness” and eco-tourism, Stevens Point’s establishment as the “Walking Capital of the Midwest” through Walk Wisconsin and other events will advance this initiative. The Portage County Trails & Wellness Guide needs better distribution locally.
T. Schrader pointed out that with the addition of bike lanes on Patch Street and the proposed I-39 underpass will achieve a better connection of trail systems to the east side of the city.
Change
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism and the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative Travel Green program has already been embraced by the Stevens Point Innkeepers Association. They continue to encourage their members to become involved. Representatives from those organizations will visit the city before the end of the year to learn how the program can gain more universal acceptance.
T. Schrader has provided the CVB with the City’s park plan. CVB staff will integrate that information with materials they produce already to enhance the awareness of the park system to visitors.
T. Schrader also pointed out that the Parks Department continues to implement sustainable practices such as placement of re-cycling bins and containers at Zenoff Park.
Keep/Preserve.
The Green Circle is the top priority of assets to be preserved. It not only adds significantly to the quality of life for our citizens but is a major tourism attraction with huge growth potential.
The second priority is maintaining a balance of “passive” open space (natural) and developed park facilities such as sports venues, etc.
Continuation of the city’s Urban Forestry Program (Tree City) including “memorial trees” not only for aesthetics but the environment in general.
Work with the Innkeepers Association to encourage greater participation in the Travel Green Program to “brand” the city as a primary Travel Green destination. Representative from the Environmental Initiative will visit the city before the end of the year to have a listening session with current certified businesses.
Protect the Wisconsin River and other water resources including public access to our waterways.
Work with the land use subcommittee to insure the current ratio of public open-space to all land (within the city limits) is maintained.
The subcommittee then discussed the expansion of the Farmer’s Market to include live music, crafts, and food to create a multi faceted weekly event downtown or at the river front.
T. Barrett stated that the CVB would prepare an inventory of all green related assets. He would then send in on to all members of the sub-committee for further development.
T. Barrett will send out an e-mail surveying the group about the next possible meeting date in December.
Adjourn
Thursday, October 25, 2007 Minutes
Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
340 Division Street N
Stevens Point, WI
Present: Todd Ernster, Dennis Yockers, Jo Seiser, John Jury, Ron Zimmerman, George Rogers, Tom Schrader, Kim Beckham, Lindsey Wood, Kathy Schwartz, Sara Brish, Tom Barrett
1. Liaison T. Barrett welcomed everyone and the group introduced themselves to one another.
2. Barrett distributed the Eco-Municipality fact sheet explaining concept behind the initiative. Barrett then went on to explain how the local tourism industry has embraced the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative Travel Green program already. In addition to the Visitor Information Center receiving Travel Green certification, 7 other lodging establishments and attractions have gained certification as well. These entities have met and exceeded criteria that reflect a commitment to responsible practices as it relates to both energy conservation and sustainability.
3. The group then discussed the purpose of the sub-committee. It was determined that both preservation and expansion of green space in the city, and the promotion of Stevens Point’s open space infrastructure are two of the main objectives of the group.
4. The sub-committee decided that an inventory of all green related assets needs to be catalogued. T. Schrader brought up the concept of a formula directly connecting population to square acreage of park land. This would be a valuable statistic and a benchmark for future growth. Both the city’s Park Plan and the County’s Planned Growth plan will be guiding documents for the sub-committee.
D. Yockers commented that UWSP students should be included in the process based on the strong connection between the initiative and the College of Natural Resources.
5. The sub-committee then elected co-chairpersons Kathy Schwartz and Dennis Yockers.
6. The sub-committee was encouraged to attend the community Eco-Municipality Kickoff on Tuesday, October 30th from 6-9pm at Ben Franklin Memorial Junior High.
7. T. Barrett will send out an e-mail surveying the group about the next possible meeting date either 11/13,14,15
8. Adjourn
Photo Credit: Melissa Sabel