Navigation

County Hires New Parks Director

Tim Kazmierczak is the new Door County Parks director, responsible for the overall operation of 21 county parks that span more than 1,000 acres and “weave the county together from Southern Door to Washington Island,” as Kazmierczak recently described it. 

He also directs maintenance, ensures park safety and manages boat launches, hunting permits and county trails. 

“I will even be managing cave research tours at Murphy Park,” he said with an exclamation mark. 

Kazmierczak was hired for the position vacated by Burke Pinney, who resigned for another position “up north,” said Wayne Spritka, Door County Facilities and Parks director. Kazmierczak, who began his position Oct. 31, was selected from among the four people who were interviewed for the position, Spritka said. 

“This is a really exciting opportunity to work directly with our beautiful Door County,” Kazmierczak said. “This position enables me to utilize my education and experience of working with plants while interacting with people.”

Kazmierczak’s name will be familiar to some. For more than 11 years, he worked as a horticulturist for the USDA’s Potato Genebank at the University of Wisconsin Peninsular Research Station in Sevastopol on Highway 42. His work involved maintenance and research on the world’s most comprehensive collection of potato germplasm.

“I was responsible for plant husbandry, facility maintenance, greenhouse operations and educational tours,” he said. 

(For the record: The potato is one of the world’s most nutritious foods, providing 45% of our daily vitamin C needs, more potassium than bananas and more fiber than a serving of spinach.)

Kazmierczak is also an alumnus of the Door County Master Gardeners Association and served on its board as director of the Garden Door. 

“They are an enthusiastic group of people who do a wonderful job of making gardening beautiful and fun,” he said. “I look forward to working with them in this new position.”

Kazmierczak and his wife, L’Erin, moved to Sevastopol when he took the position for the USDA at the research station, via Illinois and then Washington state for additional education. They have since moved to Sturgeon Bay.

Related Organizations