City of Kaukauna receives $240,000 grant to improve 1000 Islands boardwalk

KAUKAUNA, Wis. – The City of Kaukauna is proud to announce that they are the recipient of a $240,000 grant from the David L. & Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (Nelson Family Fund). The grant will help replace over 2,700 feet of boardwalk along the Fox River as part of the 1000 Islands Environmental Center Boardwalk Project.

In addition to replacing the aging 4-foot-wide boardwalk with 6-foot-wide decking and toe-rails, the 1000 Islands Boardwalk Project will include additional hand-railings, bench areas, multi-lingual trail signage, native planting, and Kaukauna Public Library Storybook Walk signage stations for events and education.

“We are grateful for the support from the Nelson Family Fund,” 1000 Islands Naturalist Brad Garrity said. “This project will make the boardwalk safer and more easily accessible for our visitors.”

Radke Contractors out of Winneconne, Wis. were awarded the project, which will be completed in two phases. Phase one, the stretch of boardwalk along the river, is anticipated to begin early October 2024 and to be completed by mid-January 2025. Phase two, the inland trails, would begin sometime after the start of February 2025 and would be completed around April 2025, depending on the weather. Work on native plantings and land restoration will be completed with the help of city staff and volunteers.

“Having these trails updated will provide more opportunities for people to enjoy everything 1000 Islands and the City of Kaukauna has to offer,” Mayor Tony Penterman said. “Thank you so much to the Nelson Family Fund for making this project possible!”