Editing Richard Bong State Recreation Area

{{Short description|Recreation area in Wisconsin, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Richard Bong State Recreation Area
| iucn_category   = 
| iucn_ref        = 
<!-- images -->
| photo           = Gfp-wisconsin-richard-bong-state-recreation-area-clouds-in-the-sky.jpg
| photo_caption   = Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County
<!-- map -->
| map             = USA Wisconsin#USA
| map_image       = 
| map_size        = 
| map_caption     = 
| relief          = 1
<!-- location -->
| location        = [[Brighton, Kenosha County, Wisconsin|Brighton]], [[Wisconsin]], [[United States]]
| nearest_city    = 
| nearest_town    = 
| coordinates     = {{coord|42|38|2|N|88|8|36|W|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref      = 
<!-- stats --> 
| length          = 
| length_mi       = 
| length_km       = 
| width           = 
| width_mi        = 
| width_km        = 
| area_acre       = 4515
| area_ref        = 
| elevation       = 
| elevation_avg   = 
| elevation_min   = 
| elevation_max   = 
| dimensions      = 
| designation     = 
<!-- dates & info -->
| authorized      = 
| created         = 
| designated      = 
| established     = 1963
| named_for       = [[Richard Bong]]
| visitation_num  = 
| visitation_year = 
| visitation_ref  = 
| governing_body  = [[Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]]
| administrator   = 
| operator        = 
| owner           =
<!-- website, embedded --> 
| website         = 
| embedded        = 
}}

'''Richard Bong State Recreation Area''' is a {{convert|4515|acre|adj=on}} unit of the [[List of Wisconsin state parks|state park system]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. It is located in the town of [[Brighton, Kenosha County, Wisconsin|Brighton]], in [[Kenosha County, Wisconsin|Kenosha County]]. This managed [[prairie]] contains {{convert|8.3|mi|0}} of [[mountain bike]] trails. Other recreational activities include [[high powered rocket|high power rocketry]], swimming, [[dogsled]]ding, [[falconry]], [[all-terrain vehicle|ATV]] sports, [[land sailing]], [[equestrianism|horseback riding]], [[hunting]], [[fishing]], camping with amenities, and [[ultralight aviation]]. There is a wildlife preserve where [[great egret]]s, [[sandhill crane]]s, 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==
The park is on land once intended for the [[Richard Bong Air Force Base]], whose namesake is [[World War II]] veteran aviator [[Richard Bong|Maj. Richard Ira Bong]]. Part of what was intended to be the {{convert|12500|ft|m|adj=on}} main airstrip is still visible from aerial photos of the site.

==Theft of signs==
[[File:BongRecreationAreaSign-Exit340-Int94eRoad (28383010921).jpg|thumb|left|Sign for the recreation area on [[Interstate 94 (Wisconsin)|Interstate 94]]]]
Largely due to [[bong|its name's]] coincidental allusions to [[marijuana]] use, Bong Recreation Area is a frequent target of [[street sign theft|sign theft]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Williams | first = Justin | title = Kenosha's Richard Bong Recreation Area deals with stolen park signs | url = http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-100309-stolen-signs,0,4139020.story | publisher = WITI-TV Fox 6 News | date = 2010-03-09 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006091412/http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-100309-stolen-signs,0,4139020.story | archivedate = 2011-10-06 }}</ref>  This has led to the manufacturing of T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing the highway exit sign.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{stack|{{commons category}}}}
*[http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/richardbong/ Richard Bong State Recreation Area]

{{Protected Areas of Wisconsin}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Kenosha County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Grasslands of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1963]]
[[Category:State parks of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Nature centers in Wisconsin]]