WAUKESHA, JEFFERSON COUNTIES COMPLETE NEW TRAIL CONNECTION BETWEEN OCONOMOWOC, WATERTOWN
Waukesha County and Jefferson County marked the completion of nearly 12.5 miles of new trail connecting the counties and providing a regional off-road route between Oconomowoc and Watertown.
Officials celebrated the completion of Jefferson County’s Interurban Trail and the final western segment of Waukesha County’s Lake Country Trail during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early September at the 2nd Street Lake Country Trail Trailhead in Oconomowoc.
“We’re proud to invest in a trail that gives residents and visitors more opportunities to bike, walk and enjoy the outdoors while connecting communities across the region,” Waukesha County Director of Parks and Land Use Dale Shaver said.
The Waukesha County portion completes a 1.2-mile off-road segment of the Lake Country Trail between the Jefferson County line and W. 2nd Street in Oconomowoc. The trail runs within an existing We Energies utility corridor and features a 10-foot-wide asphalt surface. The project also includes a new trailhead parking lot at W. 2nd Street.
The project extends the existing 14.5-mile Lake Country Trail and connects it with Jefferson County’s Interurban Trail extension.
“Completing the Interurban Trail connection to Oconomowoc is a significant milestone,” Jefferson County Director of Parks Kevin Wiesmann said. “This project has been years in the making, and it’s a great example of what counties and communities can accomplish when we work together.”
The project was supported by We Energies, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, Earl and Eugenia Quirk Foundation and Oconomowoc Rotary.
“The Lake Country/Interurban connection is the culmination of efforts throughout the years by Waukesha and Jefferson counties to create a trail that families can enjoy. We are pleased that the City of Oconomowoc was able to help with the last section,” City of Oconomowoc Mayor Matt Rosek said.
“This trail crosses two counties and multiple municipalities. We all benefit from it running through our communities. We are grateful the counties prioritized a trail system, and it will be a wonderful amenity people will use for decades to come,” Rosek added.
About the Lake Country Trail
The Lake Country Trail is a multiuse trail in Waukesha County. The newly completed western segment extends the existing 14.5-mile trail and provides an off-road connection from Oconomowoc to Jefferson County and Watertown.
About the Interurban Trail
Jefferson County’s Interurban Trail is an 11-mile paved, multiuse trail that provides a regional connection between Jefferson County and Oconomowoc. The completed extension connects with Waukesha County’s Lake Country Trail, creating a longer regional route for bicyclists, walkers and other trail users.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Jefferson and Waukesha County Parks Departments.
