We are Jim & Cathy Wilson, property owners on Government Hill Rd. and adjacent to the Ethan Allen School property. We are members of the Friends of Lapham Peak. You may have noticed the recent articles in the Journal/Sentinel and Lake Country Reporter regarding the closing of the Ethan Allen School. The latest article discussed the potential sale of the Department of Corrections (DOC) property to a developer. The reason we are contacting the Friends group is because the east-west property line between the DNR/Lapham Peak Park property and the DOC property is just south of the observation tower. We have confirmed this with Paul Sandgren. A significant part of the one ski/hike trail is on DOC property, as well as the Ice Age trail and trails from the adjacent subdivisions to the park. If the property is sold there could be a significant impact on the park unless agreements are reached to preserve the trails. Paul Sandgren was very concerned about this.

State Representative Chris Kapenga has come out in favor of selling the property as soon as possible. He has discussed this with Governor Walker who is also in favor of selling the property. We have been in contact with the Department of Corrections and they indicated there was a meeting to discuss selling the property. However none of these people were aware of where the property line is and that the trails are on DOC property. This is not part of the current budget bill negotiations.

We have tried to contact the Governor's office on more than one occasion but have not received a response.

This is for the Friend's group information if you are not aware of this yet. Obviously adding the DOC land to Lapham Peak would be the best option. Perhaps there is some compromise that would protect the trails and environment.

Jim & Cathy Wilson

Lapham Peak ranks 12th in revenue generation among the 40-plus units in the Wisconsin State Parks and Forests system.  This is without the the usual popular attractions like camping and swimming.  Clearly, trails are a major attraction on the 1,023 acre property.

The Ethan Allen School parcel is about 200 acres.  It has been state property since 1903 when it was acquired for a tuberculosis sanatorium.  In 1939 a portion that is now part of Lapham Peak was transferred to the Wisconsin Conservation Commission, the predecessor of the Department of Natural Resources.   

According to Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Supervisor Paul Sandgren, several issues will have to be dealt with before the Ethan Allen School property could be offered for sale, notably the exact boundaries which are not shown correctly in the Waukesha County Plat Book.   

Opportunities for adding acreage to Lapham Peak have been few and extremely expensive.  Small parcels have been acquired through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund Program which will be frozen if the new budget is approved.   

The Ethan Allen School property is already publicly owned.  Given the expense and difficulty of buying lands to expand Lapham, which is likely to increase in popularity and could be an even larger factor for DNR revenue, it seems shortsighted to dispose of it.  And, some trails are already traversing it.

We encourage you to contact Representative Chris Kapenga and Senator Neil Kedzie, who is chair of the Natural Resources Committee.