News as of 01/20/2022
New Horizons Project: We Did It!. $20,000.

I want to thank everyone who donated to Anderson Park Friends’ (APF) New Horizon Project. We are thrilled to have your support!

Through your donation, we will be able to increase fresh produce for 3 food pantries and to expand our conservation work at Anderson Farm County Park. We are planning another new 11 acre prairie for 2025.

Overall, we had 113 donations. Donations were matched “dollar for dollar” by an anonymous donor. The result was $20,000 for APF. We now have a firm foundation to plan 2023-3024 activities.

We are beginning a process to discuss with the Dane County Parks Department how we can create more infrastructure at the park.

Your support will help sustain our organization for many years to come. The donation supports our organization’s mission and ensures the future of APF. It makes all the difference.

Our 2022 accomplishments report to the Dane County Parks Department is available below. Our newsletters, web site and Facebook page will provide updated information about our 2023 plans and activities.

We welcome your comments and/or suggestions on how we can improve the park and provide more benefits to the community.

Your interest and support are appreciated!

Roe Parker, President
Anderson Park Friends, Inc.

APF’s 2022’s Report Card.

Looking back, it was another successful year for Anderson Farm County Park. Below are just a few of the year’s highlights:

- Oregon Food Pantry Gardens:  Volunteers grew 3,000 pounds of produce that was given to the Belleville, Oregon & Verona pantries, and Little John’s Kitchen. New raspberries & asparagus beds were 
   planted in 2022. The remaining raised beds were used by Senior Center members.

- Irrigation System for Anderson Farm Center: APF and Rooted worked together to raise funds and install a $20,000 underground irrigation system for 23, quarter-acre, garden plots. The system supports
  the food pantry garden and 16 Hmong families who lease other plots of land.

- Community Orchard: APF expanded the orchard by planting 10 new plum trees. The orchard's total number of trees is up to 30.

- 35-acre Dog Park: Our new dog park opened May 19.  APF received many positive comments about the prairie & overall design.

- Olbrich Home Garden Tour Walk, July 8 &9:  Olbrich Botanical Gardens recognized the park before and during the event. Approximately 223 people toured the Sholts forest and prairies.

- Arthur Sholts Memorial Woods:  Volunteers increased the number of oak trees from 10 to 20. Red, white, and burr oaks were planted in October.

- Native Plant Gardens: New gardens were added in 2022. The total number of gardens established since 2016 is now up to 16. New gardens are planned for 2023.

- Bluebird Trail: APF volunteers supported the 5-year old trail in 2022. Volunteers ensured that 48 bluebirds were fledged (in addition to a few other species).  The total number of bluebirds fledged since
  2015 is over 210.

How did we do it? Our accomplishments are the result of over 3,900 volunteer hours in 2022. A new all-time record.

Click here for the 2022 APF Annual Report.

P.S. 2023 is looking like it will be another great year of fun and growth for the community! Join us again in 2023 by joining or renewing your membership.

2022 Food Pantry Garden

We plant, we grow, we feed!

in 2022, the APF Food Pantry Garden grew over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to the Oregon, Belleville, and Badger Praire Needs Network (Verona) pantries. Key points are as follows:'

• APF donated over 150 squash tothe  Oregon Food Pantry for 2022 Thanksgiving baskets.
• Less than perfect vegetables went to Little John's Kitchen for further processing-prepared meals that went to low-income families.
• St. Maria Goretti's 8th graders helped plant the garden in May 2022.
  
• Oregon High School School Girls' Cross County Team provided valuable support by working in the garden during July and August.
• APF added a "2nd growing season" that started August 1, 2022. 
• On some days, we were harvesting hundreds of pounds of produce. 

Eagle Scout Project

Did you hear about Tyler Ricter's successful Eagle Scout project for Anderson Farm County Park? Tyler and other scouts built a large set of compost bins (3) for the food pantry garden. For more information, go to the Oregon Observer article at https://bit.ly/3y7esNA. Our thanks go out ot Tyler, other scouts in Troop 168, and their parents

Anderson Farm County Park was established in 2014 and is a passive recreation park in the Dane County Parks system.  The park is approximately 310 acres and is a mix of woodland, prairies, and agricultural fields. Other features include rain and pollinator gardens as well as a bluebird trail.

The park is located at:

- Forest & Prairie Parking: 914 Union Road 
- Dog Park Parking: 804 Union Road
  Oregon, WI 53575

Anderson Farm County Park was established in 2014 and is located just south of the Village of Oregon. The park is approximately 310 acres of woodland, agricultural fields, and restored prairies. The park offers a network of woodland hiking trails through the Arthur Sholts Memorial Woods, a 36 acre off-leash dog park (including a 2.5 acre small dog area) with limestone trails through restored prairie, and community garden plots. A central paved bike trail connects the Dog Park with the Memorial Woods and the Village of Oregon. Hiking trails border agricultural fields throughout the park.

The park is named after the Lyman F. Anderson Family farmstead that was founded at the site in 1886. Lyman F. Anderson, who passed away in 2005, was a former County Board Supervisor and also served in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

For more photos of this park, visit our Flickr album.

A 35-acre dog park is accessible (with a permit) from 804 Union Road. The dog park includes areas for large and small dogs. An electrical charging station and a vault toilet are available. An additional features include a 7,000 native plant drainage basin and a 10 tree community orchard.

Anderson Park Friends, Inc. is an award winning 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization working with the Dane County Parks Division to develop, protect, preserve, and enhance beautiful Anderson Farm County Park. The park is in Phase 1 of the master plan.  Our organization is comprised of over 230 members living in Oregon, Brooklyn, and the surrounding townships-Towns of Oregon, Rutland, and Dunn.

The development of the park has a Master Plan. Click here to read the Master Plan.

Join Us!

For more information:

Roe Parker, President
1560 Partridge Hill Drive
Oregon, WI 53575
608-835-3580
[email protected]