Walk, Ride, or Roll on the Gold Star Memorial Trail

A Multi-Year Plan for the Gold Star Memorial Trail

The Gold Star Memorial Trail is a 10-foot wide, paved, non-motorized path that will create a safe, off-road connection between Mayville, Horicon and Beaver Dam. The Trail creates a vital route for transportation and recreational opportunities for city and rural residents as well as visitors and tourists. The trail also remembers those who have given their lives serving our country and their families.

The $3-4 million estimated project will be constructed over 5 phases with a goal to be mostly funded through donations and grants. The Friends of Dodge County Parks, Inc., the group behind the construction of the Wild Goose State Trail, is spearheading the fundraising efforts.

Phase 1 of the project constructed a 2.1-mile long paved, off-road path within the right of way on the north side of State Highway 28, connecting Theiler Park in Mayville to the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area Education and Visitor Center. Design and construction of Phase 1 was about $670,000 with most of the cost funded by community donations and grants.

Construction on Phase 1 began in February 2018 and wrapped up in November 2018. Finishing touches on Phase 1 including signage, benches, trail head kiosks and memorials were installed in spring 2019. The official ribbon cutting for Phase 1 was at Theiler Park in Mayville on Saturday, June 1, 2019 (National Trails Day).

Phases 2-5 continue the Trail into Horicon and Beaver Dam. Currently, the Horicon Marsh trails do not permit bike riding, but users can walk, hike or walk a bike on the southern Bachhuber Trail to Palmatory Point (Phase 5), which then connects to the City of Horicon Gold Star Memorial Trail bike route (Phase 4). The Horicon bike route leads to the west end of the City near Whitty Park, which will serve as the connecting point for Phases 2-3 of the project.

Phases 2 and 3 are currently in the planning and design process. The Trail was awarded a nearly $1.1 million WI Department of Transportation (WISDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to construct Phase 2, connecting the City of Horicon with the Wild Goose State Trail. The TAP grant requires a 20% local match, around $200,000. Fundraising efforts are working towards this local match. Construction on Phase 2 is set for 2024.

Click this link for a map of all 5 GSMT Phases. For additional GSMT information visit the Dodge County Land Resources and Parks website.