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Richard Bong State Recreation Area facts for kids

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Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Gfp-wisconsin-richard-bong-state-recreation-area-clouds-in-the-sky.jpg
Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County
Richard Bong State Recreation Area is located in Wisconsin
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Location in Wisconsin
Richard Bong State Recreation Area is located in the United States
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Location in the United States
Location Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
Area 4,515 acres (18.27 km2)
Established 1963
Named for Richard Bong
Governing body Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
BongRecreationAreaSign-Exit340-Int94eRoad (28383010921)
Sign for the recreation area on Interstate 94

The Richard Bong State Recreation Area is a large park in Wisconsin, covering about 4,515 acres. It's part of Wisconsin's state park system and is located in Brighton, in Kenosha County. This special area is a managed prairie, which is a type of grassland.

The park offers many fun outdoor activities. You can explore 8.3 miles of mountain bike trails. Other popular things to do include swimming, dogsledding, and even falconry, which is training birds of prey. People also enjoy ATV sports, land sailing, and horseback riding. If you like nature, you can go hunting or fishing. The park also has camping spots with useful facilities. For those who love to fly, ultralight aviation is allowed here.

The Richard Bong State Recreation Area is also home to a wildlife preserve. Here, you might spot amazing birds like great egrets, sandhill cranes, and great blue herons. These birds are known to build their nests in this protected area. This park is a key part of a bigger plan called the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge.

What is the Richard Bong Air Force Base?

This park is built on land that was once meant for a big air force base. The base was going to be named after Major Richard Ira Bong. He was a brave pilot and a hero from World War II.

Even today, if you look at aerial photos of the park, you can still see parts of what was supposed to be the main airstrip. It was planned to be very long, about 12,500 feet. This shows how big the base was going to be.

Images for kids

  • Gfp-wisconsin-richard-bong-state-recreation-area-clouds-in-the-sky

    Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County

  • BongRecreationAreaSign-Exit340-Int94eRoad (28383010921)

    Sign for the recreation area on Interstate 94

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