In August of 1930, Chequamegon Bay area boosters wined, dined, yachted, and airplaned a representative of the federal government in the Apostle Islands practically begging him to recommend national park status. They were turned down.
Now, almost exactly 94 years later, a representative of the federal government, in the form of Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) has flipped that equation upside-down.
Tiffany and his representatives have recently shown up on short notice at town board meetings, Bayfield County Executive Committee meetings, and sent letters to various chambers of commerce (complete with a pre-written “just sign here” form letter of support) announcing his plan to introduce a bill on July 24th to create the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve.
Once, the locals begged for a park and the government said no. Now the government is introducing a bill to create a park and preserve no one seemed to ask for and with little or no input from locals. Oh how times have changed.
Is it a good idea? What might it mean for the islands? What is the difference between a “park” and a “preserve”?
Because of all the lingering questions so important to those of us who love the islands, this Wednesday’s full essay on my Little Dipper blog will be free and open to all. It will look at this topsy-turvy turn of events in the politics of the Apostle Islands. Look for it Wednesday morning in your email and let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comments.
— Jeff Rennicke or should I say