No, there are no current plans for the Village of DeForest to build mountain bike trails.

The Village of DeForest Board has directed staff to start the process to identify suitable locations for mountain bike trails within the Village of DeForest. That process is taking place at the Public Service Committee. In 2023 the Village Board reinstalled the Public Service Committee. This committee was directed to continue the work of the Mountain Bike Ad Hoc group from 2022 to identify suitable locations for mountain bike trails in the Village of DeForest based off the Ad Hoc groups initial findings.

There are no official mountain bike trails that have been approved within the Village of DeForest. Unapproved trails have been discovered on both private and public lands.

No, not without prior consent from the land owner. Under Ordinance 10.05 (1)(a) No person shall willfully injure or intentionally deface, destroy or unlawfully remove, take or meddle with any property of any kind or nature belonging to the Village of its departments or to any private person without the consent of the owner or proper authority.

The Village Public Service team is in the process of going into the Village owned property removing any structures and remediating the land to the best of our staffs’ abilities. Any trails on private property would be the responsibility of the private property owner.

The Village does not have an exact date or year but has been aware of these trails since prior to 2019.

The Village does not have any evidence on who built the unapproved trails on public property.

The Village had no affiliation with the DeForest Mountain Bike Team. Staff works with this team like it does with any other group in the community looking for practice space.

All of DeForest parks and open space facilities are in the C-1 Conservancy District. The purpose and permitted uses for this zoning district can be found in the Village ordinance under 15.14

In the Villages Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan(CORP) also referred to as a Parks and Open Space Plan; conservancies are defined under the parkland classification. Under the current plan, the Village adapted the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) classification.

These classifications and definitions can be found in the current Parks and Open Space Plan 2020-2024.

Multi-use trails or paths allow for various types of transportation (pedestrians, cyclists, e-cyclists, skateboarders, inline skaters, scooters, one wheelers, etc). Trails in the Village of DeForest are multi-use trails. It is always important for all user to practice good trail etiquette.

The Village is currently working with two different companies; Stantec and Quercus Land Stewardship Services. Stantec and Quercus are working with the Village on its natural areas, stormwater areas and Yahara River habitat restoration project. Learn more here: Yahara RIver Habitat and Streambank Restoration Project.

The village park rules fall under the Village Ordinances, first to change a zoning ordinance it would first have to go to Planning and Zoning and have a public hearing, then it would go to the Village Board for approval. For just an ordinance change not impacting zoning code, the ordinance would go before the Village Board and have to be approved.

Conservancy districts permitted use can be designated on the local, county, state or federal level. The Village of DeForest does not have any county, state or federal level conservancy districts that prohibit mountain biking. The Village of DeForest defines conservancy in their Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan also known as the Parks and Open Space Plan. As part of that definition, mountain biking is not a prohibited use.

There are no ordinances prohibiting off paved trail biking in Village of DeForest Parks. However per Ordinance 10.05(1)(a) No person shall willfully injure or intentionally deface, destroy or unlawfully remove, take or meddle with an property of any kind or nature belonging to the Village of its departments or to any private person without the consent of the owner or proper authority. As long as Ordinance 10.05(1)(a) is followed biking would be permitted. On 4/4/2024 the DeForest Village Board did approve the prohibition of biking in the wooded area of River’s Turn Park. (See Map on page).

Get involved with our Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. We have an in-person workshop on April 17^th and an online survey where you can add additional comments on the bottom of your survey with other insights.

Follow our mountain bike trails Engage DeForest page by visiting: www.engagedeforest.com.