Who Was Kyle Stiegert?

Kyle Stiegert (1959-2022) was a UW-Madison professor of agricultural economics, a Fitchburg resident, and an avid bicyclist. As he neared the end of a long battle with lung disease, he asked that he be remembered by the development of a small park along his beloved Capital City State Trail. His widow Dawn and Bike Fitchburg have undertaken to make Kyle's wish a reality. Read Kyle's obituary to learn more about him.

What Is Proposed?

The Kyle Stiegert Greenway conceptual plan shows a gravel path, similar to the path at Sunnyside Park, parallel and connecting to the Capital City State Trail. Along the path are envisioned benches, a monument remembering Kyle, a Little Free Library, and native prairie plantings. A concrete pad with bicycle parking and a public repair stand are planned at the east junction of the path and the Trail. Invasive plant species will be removed.

Over time, additional path links could be built, including a link up the slope to Yarmouth Greenway Drive. More plantings could be added. A Friends group is planned to do maintenance such as weeding and litter removal.

Who Is Working On This Project?

Lots of volunteer effort has gone into the plan so far. The UW-Madison Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture allocated funds to pay senior student Will Kegel to develop initial concepts. Katie MacDonald, Principal Engineer at Parkitecture + Planning donated her time to survey the site and develop an erosion control and grading plan. Steve Arnold, Bike Fitchburg Treasurer, serves as the financial agent for the project.

The project is on property owned by the City of Fitchburg and is supported by the Fitchburg Park Commission and staff of Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department and Parks/Forestry Maintenance. The project is coordinated with Dane County Parks, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District.

What Happens Next?

At the suggestion of Fitchburg's Planning and Zoning staff, Dawn Stiegert has formally proposed that this bicycle wayside be called the Kyle Stiegert Greenway. The Common Council will refer a resolution accepting the name and the conceptual plan to the Park Commission at a future date. Until that Park Commission meeting, members of the public may comment on the proposed name and by contacting Scott Endl, Fitchburg's Director of Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry, at (608) 270-4288 or by e-mail scott.endl@fitchburgwi.gov.
Bike Fitchburg supports the project. If you do, too, please let Scott know!

How Can I Help?

• Contact Scott Endl with your comments before August 3. Support, objections, and suggestions for improvement are all invited.
• Donate! Make a tax-deductible contribution to Bike Fitchburg, Inc., a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charity, for the "Stiegert Greenway"
• Express interest in the Friends group. Send a message to treasurer@bikefitchburg.org and you will be added to a Google Group specifically to support this project.

More than $15,000 has been raised so far as a memorial to Kyle, but more is needed for durable benches, concrete and culverts, and prairie seed mix.

To donate online, go here. You will receive a tax receipt automatically.

To donate by mail, send a check to Bike Fitchburg, Inc. with memo Kyle Stiegert Greenway to:
Bike Fitchburg, Inc
2995 Sub-Zero Pkwy
Fitchburg, WI 53719-8801

You will receive a tax receipt in January of 2024 by mail.