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3 posts

Fern Trail Boardwalk Restoration

Fern Trail Boardwalk Restoration

Published December 8, 2021

Make a Donation

Make a Donation

Published June 1, 2020

sunrise

Join/Renew NWS Membership

Published May 30, 2020

Contact the Park

Newport State Park
475 County Road NP
Ellison Bay, WI 54210

Office Phone: (920) 854-2500

Newport Wilderness Society

4 days ago

Almost 40 of you attended the NWS presentation/Q&A regarding our proposed dark sky viewing improvements at Newport. We especially appreciate the thoughtful feedback, concerns, and ideas that you shared. Please be reassured that you were heard. Extra special thanks to Gene Kenny and Larry Gales for preparing and hosting the presentation, and answering questions. One way to stay informed about NWS and our work in support of Newport (as well as programs, events and other news) is to subscribe to our monthly newsletter. You can do that here: friendsofnewport.org/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/Your passion for Newport is inspiring. Thanks, again, for taking the time to join us. ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

1 week ago

Just a reminder that the Park office will be open from 10-3 the next two Saturdays, December 7 and 14th, for a holiday open house.2025 Park stickers will be available, as well as some great merchandise. Join us for cookies and hot cider and do a little shopping while you’re here!(Sorry, in person sales only. We are not able to ship things.) ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

1 week ago

NWS is hosting a presentation/Q&A regarding the NWS-proposed improvements to our dark sky viewing area at Newport. When: Saturday, December 7 at 10:30amWhere: in the Nature Center (Lot 1), Newport SP.There is a link to important background information about the proposed improvements in the comment section below.NWS understands that the public is passionate about protecting and preserving our ~2,400-acre wilderness park. We are too, and our dedicated volunteers have been doing that work for 40 years at Newport. We look forward to listening to you and answering your questions.📸: 2015 Persied Meteor Viewing at Newport by Denny Moutray ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

3 weeks ago

Dark Sky Viewing Enhancement Plan at NewportNewport Wilderness Society, the friends group at Newport SP, has long-recognized the need for improvements to the dark sky viewing area at the park. Newport received Dark Sky Park certification in 2017. We are Wisconsin's only Dark Sky Park. Park staff, visiting astronomers, and friends of NWS provide education and night sky viewing opportunities for hundreds of participants every year. Our concerns with the current condition of the viewing area, especially when we host an educational or viewing program, include: • there is no seating available; • there is no footpath to the viewing area; • adjacent sand dunes are often trampled by visitors seeking the shortest route to/from the venue; • visitors with mobility issues must traverse a lot of uneven ground to access the venue; • there is no power supply (other than battery/generator) to power AV equipment for a program or the telescopes we transport in for viewing.Over the past year, the NWS Long-range Planning Committee has been working, in collaboration with the DNR, to design improvements to the viewing area that would specifically address these concerns. Our preliminary plan includes: • a ground-level, two-tiered, natural stone seating area that could accommodate up to 100 people; • the seating area will be nestled into a grassy berm that already exists; it is designed not to be visible from the parking lot; • paths to the viewing area designed to protect adjacent sand dunes and provide safe access for all visitors; • dark sky compliant, non-white-light pathway illumination; in use during programs only; • a stacked stone wall along the east edge of the parking lot to better screen spillover light from vehicles, but not to impede the view of Lake Michigan; • improvements to the size and placement of telescope pads; • a small, accessible viewing platform overlooking Newport Beach at the end of an already existing asphalt path; • a small shed near the picnic shelter to store equipment and provide solar-powered charging for equipment. Additionally, recent terrestrial archeological surveys and a rare plant biological survey have been conducted. No potential negative impacts related to this planned project were found.NWS understands that you are passionate about protecting and preserving this ~2,400-acre wilderness park. We are too, and our volunteers have been doing that work for 40 years at Newport. We hope you will be reassured that NWS’s plan to improve the dark sky educational and viewing experience for park visitors is specifically designed to support that mission. We will be hosting a public presentation/Q&A about this project. Details will be publicized soon.Also important: a project of this nature generates a ‘variance’ to the 2018 Newport master plan. A variance is written by the DNR and invites the public to submit questions/comments. Our variance document is available here: widnr.widen.net/s/bm2wrrggzq/fl_mp_el_nlmc_variance_newportsp_darkskyamphitheater_2024Comments should be submitted by December 4 to: Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesC/O René Buys, DNR Property Planner101 S. Webster St.PO Box 7921Madison, WI 53707ReneJ.Buys@wisconsin.gov or 608-982-1688 ... See MoreSee Less

widnr.widen.net

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Newport Wilderness Society

1 month ago

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Newport Wilderness Society

1 month ago

Check out this online event, encouraging the preservation and protection of our dark skies. Newport State Park's naturalist Beth Bartoli will be participating in this event! ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

2 months ago

Office hours are starting to wind down at Newport. There’s still time to get some awesome park merchandise for Christmas presents. Or for yourself!Office Hours will be 10-3 on the following days:Wed, Oct. 23Sat, Oct. 26Sun, Oct. 27Wed, Oct. 30Sat, Nov. 23Be sure to come to our Holiday Open House days! 2025 WI State Park stickers will be available, along with all the great merchandise. Join us and enjoy cookies and hot cider while you shop. Hours will be 10-3 on:Sat, Dec. 7Sat, Dec. 14(Sorry, this is in person sales only. We are not able to ship merchandise. ) ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

2 months ago

Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful night for our full moon hike tonight. We’ll meet at Lot 1 by the office, hike starts at 7:00. ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

2 months ago

So who goes out after 10 pm to help park naturalist Beth Bartoli take Sky Quality Meter Readings? Micky and Gerry Swanson, the ultimate park groupies, that’s who! This is one of the many activities that goes on behind the scenes to maintain Newport’s international dark sky Park designation. These readings must be done at least twice a year in six different areas of the park and be reported to IDA. If you read the previous post, you see how quickly the effects of light pollution and sky glow from neighboring towns can affect places that are trying to maintain areas with minimal to no light trespass. In our critical area, every single light affects the night. ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

2 months ago

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Newport Wilderness Society

2 months ago

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Newport Wilderness Society

3 months ago

Did you know that NWS fully funds the salary of the naturalist at Newport? We are especially grateful for a grant received from Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP) which helped us with that salary funding this year. Our park would not be what it is without the hundreds of programs and events that Beth Bartoli coordinates and leads. ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

3 months ago

Let’s all do our part! ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

3 months ago

A good reminder. Every light alters the night. ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society is at Newport State Park.

3 months ago

Out on the Poetry Trail today. Join us! ... See MoreSee Less

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Newport Wilderness Society

3 months ago

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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Contact NWS

Newport Wilderness Society
P.O. Box 187
Ellison Bay, WI 54210

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