Dane County Executive Joe Parisi Announces Purchase of New Equipment for Anderson Farm County Park

January 14, 2019
Ariana Vruwink 608-267-8823
County Executive

Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced the purchase of a new tractor for Anderson Farm County Park, located in the Town of Oregon. The tractor will be used to advance the County Park’s agricultural mission following its successful $23,000 fundraising campaign by Anderson Park Friends, Inc. The new equipment will be used at the County Park for forest restoration, prairie building and maintenance, a food pantry garden, agricultural and educational activities, and its dog park.

 

“We continue to invest in and add new features to Dane County’s parks so they can be enjoyed by visitors and residents year after year,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “This tractor purchase will allow Anderson Farm County Park to expand its offerings and better serve our local communities.”

 

In 2016, the County acquired approximately 8 additional acres of land for Anderson Farm County Park that included a farmhouse. This acquisition helped establish what will become the County Park’s farm learning and education center. The property was appraised at $325,000 and bought from Patricia and Lyman Anderson Family for $300,000.

 

Anderson Farm County Park is a more than 300-acre property that features beautiful woodlands and gently rolling agricultural fields. The County Park was established in 2009 and named after Lyman Anderson. Lyman Anderson, who passed away in 2005, was a local farmer active in town, county, and state government for over forty-three years. He was a 28-year member of the County Board and also served in the Wisconsin State Legislature and on the Town of Oregon Board.

 

The County has worked closely with the Anderson family to create a plan for public use and preservation. The Anderson Farm County Park Master Plan calls for amenities with a regional draw, such as several miles of trails, a dog exercise area, a sledding hill, and farm learning and education center. Funds from the Anderson Family Farm Endowment, administered by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, also helped make the tractor purchase possible.