Door County Pulse reported on improvements slated for three Door County state parks thanks to recent Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grants awarded to Friends Groups that support WI state parks:
Whitefish Dunes State Park was awarded $20,000 towards a new trail to Cave Point County Park. Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park will match $20,000 to cover the costs of a crushed gravel trail. A dedicated trail will help curb the use of social trails that can pose hazards to hikers and disrupt the fragile habitat of threatened species like the Dwarf Lake Iris. Work is planned to begin this fall.
Potawatomi State Park was awarded $20,000 for an accessible kayak launch. Friends of Potawatomi State Park will match approximately $27,000. The new launch could be installed as early as fall and will attract new park users by offering a stable launching area.
Peninsula State Park was awarded $20,000 for replacement of picnic tables and fire rings in the campgrounds throughout the park. Friends of Peninsula State Park will match that grant with $20,000. Fire rings and picnic tables were replaced at Nicolet Bay campground last year. The grant will allow for the park’s other campgrounds to replace fire rings and picnic tables this year.
The DNR partners with Friends Groups and nonprofit conservation organizations that work to improve park facilities and restore habitat on state properties. Each year, $500,000 in Knowles-Nelson funds is budgeted for the Friends Grant Program.
Featured image by Erik Cooper, 2016.
