Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today the approval of the responsibility financing of friends for friends at 28 non -profit organizations for improvements in DNR properties across the state. The State Building Commission approved the financing that comprises 32 projects for a total of 430,877 US dollars for Stewardship funds and used 660,847 US dollars for corresponding contributions and $ 3.4 million in the overall project costs.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund was founded in 1989 to preserve important natural communities, to protect water quality and fishing and to expand the opportunities for relaxation outdoors. Part of the Stewardship Fund from the state's two -year budget is used within this program to support important leisure projects and improvements to state real estate. Many construction and real estate development projects in the State Parks, because of, forests and other DNR regions are made possible with the annual financing of the Stewardship Fund program.
“The relationships between the DNR to friends of friends are of crucial importance for the success of our state real estate and we are proud to work with them,” said DNR secretary Karen Hyun. “We are grateful to the governor that he proposed the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund in his two-year budget from 2025-27 again and an increase in financing for these effective grants throughout Wisconsin.”
STEWARDSHIP funds also support several DNR-released subsidies, including subsidies to DNR friends. As part of the program to justify the Stewardship Friend Grant, the DNR works with friends groups and non -profit nature conservation organizations to improve the facilities, to build up new leisure projects and to restore the habitat for state real estate.
Every year, 500,000 US dollars from the Stewardship program for grants to friend groups and non -profit nature conservation organizations are planned. The DNR recognizes the important role that friends play groups in fulfilling the development and restoration needs of state characteristics. Many thanks to these partners for their commitment and the continued support for DNR properties and these projects.
The following projects have been approved and are progressed in the Grant Award procedure:
- Friends of Buckhorn State Park – Install an accessible fireplace and the sidewalk
- Friends of Cedarburg Moor – Buckthorn control and habitat restoration
- Friends of Copper Falls State Park – Outdoor Education Classroom Firepit and Bänke
- Friends of Council Grounds State Park, Inc. – Electronic Kiosk for Paraufkleber sale
- Friends of Devil's Lake State Park – Access campfire rings and grills
- Friends of the Fox River State Trail, Inc. – Rules and Repetition of the Southern Section
- Friends of the governor Nelson State Park – Hogan House Restoration Phase I.
- Friends of Heritage Hill Foundation – replace
- Friends of High Cliff State Park – Lime Kiln Trail Stairs Replacement Phase II
- Ice Age Trail Alliance, Inc. – Ice Age Trail Updates including bridge replacement
- Friends of Interstate and Lake Parks – Install interpretation signs along the CCC Camp Interstate Trail
- Friends of the intergovernmental and straight lake park – improvement of the accessibility of the Camp Shelter Trail
- Kessel Moraine Natural History Association – Ottawa Lake Accessible Kayak Start
- Friends of the Kohler-Andrae State Park-Kohler-Andrae Amphitheater Entger Phase I.
- Friends of Lake Wissota State Park – Lake Wissota State Park overlooked parking space -vault toilet
- Friends of Lakeshore State Park, Inc. – Accessibility upgrade for children Prairie Trails
- Friends of Merrick State Park – accessible fishing pier
- Friends of Military Ridge – Trail signs for possibilities, phase I
- Friends of Mirror Lake State Park – accessible fire ring at Mirror Lake Beach
- Friends of the Mirror Lake State Park – replacement for outdoor cooking grill
- Friends of New Glarus Woods State Park – Mountain Bike Trail Phase II
- Newport Wilderness Society – Amphitheater in the Dark Sky in Newport State Park
- Friends of Peninsula State Park – outdoor meeting area in Mountain Bike Trailhead
- Friends of Perrot State Park – accessibility upgrades on the interpretive trail
- Friends of Point Beach State Forest – Playground -Pupdate with new accessible equipment
- Friends of the Rib Mountain State Park – Nord Warage Decking Surface Restoration
- Friends of RIB Mountain State Park – Wall Paving improvements AO amphitheater and concession stand
- Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy, Inc. (SPCC) – parking and driveway pavement
- Friends of the Wildcat Mountain State Park – improvements in the horse camp trail, phase I.
- Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks, Inc. – Single Track
- Mountain Bike Trail Network Phase III
- Friends of Yellowstone Lake State Park – fire ring set
- Friends of Yellowstone Lake State Park – Prairie and Savanna Restoration
Find out more about the programs for the Stewardship Fund Grant and Friends groups on the website of the DNR Friends Groups.