Local Volunteer Gets State Award

Bill Scholten of Sturgeon Bay has spent almost 25 years as one of Potawatomi State Park’s best friends. He helped found the park’s friends group in 1995 and recently retired as its president, and this fall was recognized for his work.

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks honored Scholten with the Hero Award, which goes annually to a dedicated park volunteer.

“I believe in volunteerism, and it helps to give you a personal satisfaction of trying to accomplish a little something in a big world,” Scholten said.

It all started 25 years ago, when Scholten first moved to Door County. He had recently gotten into running and was participating in races around the county. One of his favorites was Run Wild at Potawatomi State Park, just a few miles from his home.

But Scholten was concerned when he couldn’t find an application for 1995’s Run Wild. He learned the event was cancelled because the park couldn’t afford it, so he and a group of runners started Friends of Potawatomi State Park to bring back the race.

“My main purpose was to continue the run, but then we found out the park was in dire need of revitalization,” Scholten said.

The volunteers organized, raised money and started supporting the park. They help clean up roads, trails and campsites every spring, raised money to improve playgrounds and put on the Run Wild race every year.

“The volunteers that I work with at Potawatomi are the real ones that deserve the award,” Scholten said. “I feel that I want to share it with them, and I’m going to do that.”