Council Grounds State Park
This beautiful year-round state park
offers 55 camping sites, showers, hiking, cross-country skiing, a boat landing,
fishing, and picnicing. The unique Mully Taylor Memorial
picinic shelter can be reserved for group picinics. The park
offers an excersise trail with 10 stations and modern restroom and shower
facilities are available. A state park sticker is required
for admittance. Call 715-536-8773 or 715-536-4502 for information.
Council Grounds State Park is located west of and adjoins the City of Merrill. The park is bounded to the northwest by the 676 acre Alexander Flowage and to the west and south by the Wisconsin River. The rapidly developing Merrill Area Recreation Complex (multi-purpose building, softball diamonds, walking trail, soccer fields and parking lots) bounds the park to the east.
On January 12, 1938, the Conservation Commission, forerunner of the DNR, accepted a gift of the 277.77 acre Wildwook Park from the City of Merrill. The City Council resolution recommended that the land be used for park or forestry purposes although no restrictions were placed on the deed. The tract was classified as Council Grounds State Forest.
Between 1938 and 1964, a campground with 19 sites, several picnic areas, a 21 acre scientific area, shelter building, boat landing and one mile of hiking trails were added. In June of 1964, it was recommended that the tract of land be named Council Grounds State Roadside Park. D.J. Mackie, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, explained, in 1964, the Council Grounds State Forest was more a park than a forest, and to accurately reflect its use and purpose, it should be redesignated.
The late 1960's and early 1970's saw the development of a swimming beach and relocation and expansion (55 sites) of the family campground. By 1979, a 10 year master plan for the property had been approved and, with it, a change in classification from Roadside Park to State Park.
Total acreage for the property now stands at 502.63. Total cost of acquisition, to date, is $378,502.00. The most recent acquisition was 14.23 acres from the City of Merrill at a cost of $82,000.00. As a condition of that acquisition the City of Merrill and the DNR signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will allow minimal development of the acreage, by the DNR, to conform with the Cities masterplan.
In May of 1992, the Natural Resources Board approved the State Park Boundary Expansion Feasibility Study with a total acreage goal of 1001.29.
Council Grounds is an all season park which provides facilities for picknicking, swimming, boating, fishing, nature study, hiking, off road biking, camping and cross country skiing.
In calendar year 1997, park attendance was 206,790 and 20,012 camper days were recorded. Revenue for 1997 was $107,821.45.
Development consists of 13 acres of picnic area, an enclosed shleter, 220' swimming beach, concession stand, boat landing with two boarding docks, accessible fishing pier, water ski pier, 0.8 mile of self guided nature trails, interpretive center, 3.1 miles of hiking trail, 2 miles of off-road biking trails, 55 unit campground with 19 electrical sites, 5.3 miles of groomed cross country ski trail, shower building, flush toilet building, six vault toilets, 16' x 12' entrance building and service area with heated shop and two unheated storage buildings.
Council Grounds is assisted by a 15 member Citizens Advisory Committee with representation from service clubs and concerned citizens. The committee, which meets a minimum of twice annually, is advisory to the Northern Region Lands Program and Bureau of Parks on matters of planning, development and major maintenance. The committee keeps the community informed about park operations.
The parks Natrual Area (21 acres) was established by John T. Curtis in 1953. On September 25, 1983, it was named Krueger Pines Scientific Area in honor of Senator Clifford "Tiny" Krueger, a former leading conservationist and advocate of natural resource programs in Wisconsin.
The shelterhouse was dedicated as the Taylor Memorial Shelterhouse on May 19, 1985 in memory of M.N. "Mully" Taylor and his wife, W. "Billie" Mead Taylor. Through their efforts, over 23 million trees were planted in Wisconsin and Conservation Classes were made available for all people.
Since January of 1995, the Council Grounds Work Unit has consisted of Council Grounds, Rib Mountain State Park (1134.88), the Big Rib River Resources Area (720 acres) and the State-owned islands in Lincoln and Langlade Counties. The Work Unit is staffed by the Superintendent, Michael Willman, Council Grounds Ranger, Steve Wendland, Rib Mountain Ranger, Al Nordstrom and a nine month Seasonal Ranger position.
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