News from the NWS Board

NWS has long-recognized the need for improvements to Newport’s dark sky viewing area, located in the day-use venue adjacent to Lot 3. Our concerns with the current condition of the viewing area, especially when we host an educational or night sky viewing program, include: Over the past year, the NWS Long-range Planning Committee […]

Thanks to cooperative late-fall weather, our NWS master naturalists and volunteers have made significant progress on a new native plant garden at the entrance to Newport. A large patch of grass and weeds now supports three serviceberry trees, a variety of native grasses, some low-growing aromatic sumac, and a substantial amount of […]

Perhaps you met Ken leading a Newport hike, or an interpretive program, or volunteering on one of our park work projects. His smile was infectious. His knowledge of fire safety and wilderness preparedness was a gift to so many program participants. Our sincere sympathy to Mary and the Foszcz family. Ken […]

On September 24, 1964, our beautiful state park was formally established. It was known as Europe Bay State Park for 6 years; its name was changed to Newport State Park in August 1970. The original vision of how the park might be used, including the idea of a naturalist program, […]

NWS recently funded an upgrade to the ten stanchions located along the Poetry Trail. After 14 years of exposure to the elements, the frames in which the poems are displayed were showing their age. They have been replaced. The Poetry Trail was established at Newport during the summer of 2010, a collaborative […]

There are approximately 26 miles of wilderness, silent-sport (hiking, biking, skiing) trails at Newport. This is a significant area of public use in the park that needs to be monitored through all seasons. NWS now has a team of trail stewards who volunteer their time to keep an eye on […]

Newport State Park is not immune to the introduction and spread of invasive plant species. When invasives become established, they can quickly choke out native plant populations…out-competing them for space, sunlight and soil nutrients. Invasives are more problematic in areas of the park where humans (and wildlife) tend to travel: […]

NWS has learned of the recent passing of John C. Plume. Mr. Plume was manager of Europe Bay State Park in the late-1960’s. (Europe Bay SP was established in 1964 and became formally known as Newport State Park in 1970.) Mr. Plume’s obituary is available here. We are so very grateful […]

Friends groups like Newport Wilderness Society do not exist without the contributions of, well, friends. Today we want to recognize the extraordinary, ongoing support we receive from Carol and Chris Ash of Kick Ash Products in Ellison Bay. Where do we start?

A summary document prepared by the Wisconsin Policy Forum As you might imagine, this situation places increasing financial pressure on every state park property, park staff, and park-supporting friends groups like Newport Wilderness Society.

Despite the removal of several potentially problematic snags and dying trees before construction on the Fern Trail boardwalk began, in early January a large tree fell and damaged a boardwalk section. The downed tree was removed quickly. Thirteen NWS volunteers took advantage of favorable weather in February to repair the […]

Our thanks to everyone who submitted feedback (Aug/Sept 2023) to the DNR regarding the Master Plan variance for the proposed development of horse trails in Newport State Park. (Backstory and NWS opinion on this issue here.) Synopsis of DNR Decision (Jan 5, 2024) The department has decided NOT TO APPROVE […]

Destination Door County/Door County Community FoundationState Parks Grant Initiative$50,000 Matching Grant In late 2023, Destination Door County, in partnership with the Door County Community Foundation, launched the State Parks Grant Initiative to improve and enhance Newport, Peninsula, Potawatomi, Rock Island, and Whitefish Dunes State Parks. This grant initiative is divided into three parts: Donations […]

This is the time of year when we come together to celebrate our wonderful team of volunteers and all of the work they have accomplished in support of Newport during 2023. Carol and Chris Ash once again opened up their beautiful space at Kick Ash in Ellison Bay for us to gather. Sixty-five […]

NWS board member Deb Ford has photo-documented some of the volunteer workday scenes from the newly constructed Fern Trail boardwalk. The collection includes images of the seasonal flooding that impacts the trail; the deconstruction of the former ground-level boardwalk; and the incredible hard work (and fun) that went into building […]

On Saturday, October 7, NWS board member Gene Kenny placed the final deck board of the new 1,800′ elevated Fern Trail boardwalk. Gene has guided this entire project from conception/design; DNR approvals; grant applications and funding; working with Custom Manufacturing to secure all the materials needed for the project; and, […]

You know those 700 trees we planted at the entrance to Newport in April?And then hand-watered over multiple weeks because…very little rain. Overall, they are doing great! Mark Glasser and Deb Ford recently walked the new tree field to remove the pink yarn markers from the tree-lings and tally the […]

Summer may be in our rearview mirror, but we still have glorious fall to look forward to. This is the time to get some great merchandise and also support Newport Wilderness Society. All profits from merchandise sales fund the naturalist’s salary, interpretive programing and infrastructure projects at Newport State Park. There are new […]

A Special Announcement sent via email, newsletter, and Facebook post to friends of Newport. NWS members and friends: You may or may not be aware that the Recreation Objectives for Newport State Park in the WI DNR 2018 Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Master Plan include “Expand recreational opportunities by adding […]

Writing workshops at Newportfor members and friends of Newport Wilderness Societypresented by Write On, Door County  This is a special opportunity for members and friends of NWS to explore and reflect on the natural world using Newport SP as a backdrop and source of inspiration for writing. Overcome any intimidation around writing and learn how to […]

A swarm of tired and ravenous Fern Trail worker-bees descend on the picnic area at mid-day. Waiting for them is a hearty lunch, sometimes prepared by one of those same worker-bees. We are overdue with expressing our thanks to the behind-the-scenes volunteers who have fed our Fern Trail boardwalk volunteers […]

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP) has provided much support to Newport Wilderness Society in a variety of ways over the years. We are especially grateful for a recent grant received from FWSP which will help us partially fund the park naturalist’s salary this year.  NWS has historically underwritten the naturalist’s salary at […]

NWS held our (38th!) annual meeting at the park on July 29th. We had a beautiful morning to reconnect with long-time NWS friends, meet some new NWS members, and to remember former Newport SP superintendent Harvey Stahl. We recognized retiring board members Terry Heidenreiter, Jeanne Rabel, and Greg Wilde. We welcomed […]

At their July 17 Giving Event, 100+Women Who Care (Door County) selected NWS as the recipient of a $7,000 award which will be directed to our Fern Trail Boardwalk Restoration project. NWS is deeply grateful to receive this award. Our sincere thanks to Julia Keepper (NWS board member and 100+WWC member) for […]

Remember those 700 trees that were planted at the park entrance in April? Well, conditions have been a bit dry the past few weeks, so NWS volunteers are stepping up to help water and make sure they continue to get off to a good start. Twenty-ish people had it all done […]

With her extraordinary gifts of talent and time, NWS volunteer Alison Whitney has completed a stunning new mural inside the Visitors Center at Newport State Park. What is most remarkable about the project is that this is Whitney’s first mural. NWS funded the costs of paint and materials, but Alison […]

As part of the 2023 Door County Big Plant, over 40 volunteers planted more than 700 trees at the entrance to Newport State Park on April 26th. This collaborative project was sponsored by Destination Door County and coordinated by the Climate Coalition of Door County and Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership. […]

The Nature Center at Newport SP is in the beginning stages of a makeover, thanks to the vision of Master Naturalists Helen Berch-Kenny, Maureen Flatley, Mary O’Grady, Lynn Reuter, Holly Smith; volunteer Julia Keepper; and Park Naturalist Beth Bartoli. Existing displays are being organized and consolidated and a new display devoted […]

Our 33rd Annual Candlelight Ski-Hike-Snowshoe is in the history books. As is the tradition, guests enjoyed traversing the Fern Trail loop, guided by candlelight through the forest and along the lakefront. Conditions were fairly icy this year, so most people chose to hike. A roaring fire and yummy hot chocolate […]