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A Plan for the Future

  • Bryan Stanley
  • Jan 26
  • 2 min read

I have been proposing the creation of a new, great national park in Crawford County for some time now. The Driftless Rivers National Park, conservatively, will generate $316 million a year in spending. This converts to about $18,000 per person, per year, in Crawford County. I would support an area tax, of some sort, to provide pensions for landowners who participate in the program.


But, short of creating this new park, there are tangible things that can be done to capitalize on Crawford County's recreation potential and enormous scenic beauty. One place to start is to get a special designation for the country from the National Park Service. I believe one is called the National Natural Landmark, or NNL. This will alert citizens of the unique and important aspect of this magnificent part of the Driftless Area. This will inspire people to visit and see for themselves the reason for such a proclamation.


But, then what? I believe it will be important that Crawford County residents team up and create a resource product that sells. A product that does not run out but even increases in value over time. One possibility is to create a system of Bed & Breakfasts and privately managed campgrounds, in addition to hiking and horseback riding trails. Your farm just might have such stunning beauty that patrons will want to return to again and again, year after year. And they will tell their friends about it.


Also, we can spruce up the county roads with fragrant lilacs, flowering dogwoods, native prairies and wildflowers. An army of volunteers could do this. Can you picture this stunning beauty in your mind? Perhaps the Park Service can help pay for this. They can also provide other advice. They are experts in eco-tourism.


This current economic situation reminds me of a time back in the 1880's. Communities in Oregon and Washington State were being devasted by the collapse of the logging industry with no hope in sight. Tourism industries came in force, so much so, that the 2nd condition was better than the first. This could happen here too. So, take heart.

 
 
 

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Art, History, Geography, and Culture come together in this new Wisconsin Book!

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Meet the Author

Brian Stanley

Bryan is a soil scientist.  He grew up in the Driftless Area, and eventually earned a bachelor's degree in Natural Resources from UW-Stevens Point.

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"The cultural aspects of the Driftless Area are fascinating," he notes.  "The significance of the people who have lived here or whose lives have intersected here is historically important and significant to the story of the creation of a national park."

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Stanley is donating all profits from the book to establish a new park in Crawford County which lies in the heart of the Driftless Area.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT...

  • Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin's second oldest community.  Green Bay was the first - both areas were established by the French.

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  • The first (and only), President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, was a U.S. Army officer stationed at Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien.

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  • The term, "Driftless Area" means that no glacial drift is found in this region of deep valleys and high hills.

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  • Petroglyphs are rock engravings or sculptures while pictographs are drawings done with charcoal, paint, or other materials.

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  • To create a new National Park, the proposed area must be deemed nationally significant in at least one of these three areas:

    1. Natural​

    2. Historical

    3. High Recreation Potential

The Driftless Area has all three!​

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To purchase your spectacular Wisconsin book today, click here or you can contact Bryan at bryan@driftlessrivers.org

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