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Should county be a national park?

  • Bryan Stanley
  • 6 days ago
  • 2 min read

With ever increasing revelations lauding the Driftless Area (Region) where is it all leading? We have finally identified the 800-pound gorilla that sits in the heart of the Midwest. The question now is: Are we going to keep talking about it or are we going to do something about it? That is, what are we going to do with the Driftless Area?


In m college years as a science major, we were taught that in any research study the most important thing to be taken from any given research was the results. So, what are the combined results going to be with all of the social, recreational, economic, and science interest/research now underway about the Driftless Area. I believe, for quite some time, that all of this attention and potential culminates in one thing - the creation of the Driftless Rivers National Park. Its time has come. The region seems to be begging for it - both from people and the land itself.


When Pope John Paul II was elected Pope in 1978 - much to Poland's joy - I heard one Polish lady remark "He is much too good to keep to ourselves. We need to share him." And, just like the Polish people, I think we need to share the Driftless Area.


I have received much more support for this new park than opposition. But, some landowners might feel: "I think it is a good idea, but what will my neighbors think if I support this new park?". But, I will restate that no landowner will be evicted off their land. It will all be strictly voluntary by willing landowners. Plus, landowners can live out their lives on their land if they desire. We don't have to create this park overnight. If we can get an 80% participation rate that should get us started.


I am willing to do all that is necessary to create the park. But, if any citizen wants to help, I'll accept it. I'll answer any and all questions put to me.

 
 
 

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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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