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Richard Bong State Recreation Area

Coordinates: 42°38′2″N 88°8′36″W / 42.63389°N 88.14333°W / 42.63389; -88.14333
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Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County
Map showing the location of Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Map showing the location of Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Map showing the location of Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Map showing the location of Richard Bong State Recreation Area
LocationBrighton, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates42°38′2″N 88°8′36″W / 42.63389°N 88.14333°W / 42.63389; -88.14333
Area4,515 acres (18.27 km2)
Established1963
Named forRichard Bong
Governing bodyWisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Richard Bong State Recreation Area is a 4,515-acre (1,827 ha) unit of the state park system of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is located in the town of Brighton, in Kenosha County. This managed prairie contains 8.3 miles (13 km) of mountain bike trails. Other recreational activities include high power rocketry, swimming, dogsledding, falconry, ATV sports, land sailing, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, camping with amenities, and ultralight aviation. There is a wildlife preserve where great egrets, sandhill cranes, and great blue herons are known to nest. The Richard Bong SRA is one of the centerpieces of the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge.

Richard Bong Air Force Base

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The park is on land once intended for the Richard Bong Air Force Base, whose namesake is World War II veteran aviator Maj. Richard Ira Bong. Part of what was intended to be the 12,500-foot (3,800 m) main airstrip is still visible from aerial photos of the site.

Theft of signs

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Sign for the recreation area on Interstate 94

Largely due to its name's coincidental allusions to marijuana use, Bong Recreation Area is a frequent target of sign theft.[1] This has led to the manufacturing of T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing the highway exit sign.

References

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  1. ^ Williams, Justin (March 9, 2010). "Kenosha's Richard Bong Recreation Area deals with stolen park signs". WITI-TV Fox 6 News. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011.
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