By Anita Weier
Friends of Hartmeyer Natural Area

The Friends of Hartmeyer Natural Area continues to formalize its organization and work toward protecting the natural area on Roth Street behind the Oscar Mayer property. The natural area is currently owned by the Hartmeyer Family Trust.

In December, the Friends elected a board: Candi Diaz, Jim Wehn, Paul Noeldner, Barb Noeldner, JoAnn Reckner, Linda Johnson, Jeff Steele, Tim Nelson and Chet Hermansen. The board will choose its officers at a later date.

Board members come from various communities on the Northside and all wish to protect the environment. Ginny Scholtz is heading a committee that will develop bylaws. Scholtz and Beth Sluys have collected bylaws from other organizations to use as templates.

Members continue to seek community, local business and Madison Parks Division support. The Friends group plans to speak at various city boards and commissions to explain the group’s goals. The group’s mailing list will be expanded to include Alders Abbas and Kemble, the Village of Maple Bluff, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Natural Resources, area businesses and local neighborhood associations. 

Alder Syed Abbas supports possible purchase of the park. Money has been placed in the city budget to be used to assess and appraise the 30-acre Hartmeyer property.

A meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, 6 pm, at the Lakeview Library. All interested residents are invited to attend.