The city of Manitowoc is getting grant money from the state to improve an area of the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced earlier this week that Manitowoc will get a little more than $95,000 for improvements in an area on the Little Manitowoc River through the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Costal Management Program.
Evers, along with Wisconsin DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld, stopped at Lincoln Park yesterday to get a tour of the area to see the future project which will be called the Coast Wetland Aviary Project.
Manitowoc Parks and Recreation Development Manager Curtis Hall tells Seehafer News the plan is to take out fencing where the zoo is closest to the Little Manitowoc River and clear out invasive species and turn the area into a more natural place for people to see.
“Put in some board walks and some bridges and some native plants,” he explained. “Recreate a natural wetland habitat to attract birds so that visitors to the zoo can walk along the boardwalk, view the Little Manitowoc River, and hopefully do some birding.
The project will also benefit the area since it’s prone to flooding.
“This is going to create a really valuable system of wetland ponds, dry ponds, that are going to allow for flood storage,” he described to Seehafer News. “So, in the event of a flood, this area will hold a lot of flood water.”
Evers himself explains that getting these grants out to communities has been a priority for his administration and how important it is to have wetlands but make sure they don’t affect residents. He thought the project idea was a great one.
“This will make a huge difference for the people here,” he said. “It’s going to be connected with other plans for walkways and opportunities for people to get in the water with kayaks. So, I think they’re doing the exact right thing.”
Other guests, including Manitowoc mayor, Justin Nickels, Council President Bill Schlei and zoo staff joined the governor for his tour of the area where the new project will be.
31 other communities will get a share of $1.3 million in grants to support quality of life and improve Great Lakes resources.
