Newport State Park of Door County Updates Poetry Trail

(Left to right) Nancy Rafal and Barbara Larsen walk through the updated Poetry Trail at Newport State Park.

The current exhibit on Newport State Park’s Poetry Trail features poems by two students from Gibraltar High School, Lexie Janssen and Lena MacDonald, and two from Sevastopol, Trevor Hietpas and Cody Birnschein, as well as five poets whose work has appeared in past issues of the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: Francha Barnard, David Clowers, Alice D’Alessio, Gary Jones, and Jeanie Tomasko.

The next display will be put up in July and will run through September. It will highlight works of the local critique group, Unabridged. From October through March the poems of Barbara Larsen, current Poet Laureate of Door County, will be spotlighted.

In the fall, a reception will be held in celebration of all the poets whose works have been displayed during the past year.

The trail is a joint project of local poet groups and the Newport Wilderness Society. The public can contribute toward the cost of maintaining the poetry displays by mailing checks to The Newport Wilderness Society, P.O. Box 187, Ellison Bay, WI 54210. Note that the contribution is for the Newport Poetry Trail.

Newport State Park is on County NP, east of Highway 42 near Gills Rock. A state park vehicle sticker is required for admission. For more information, call 920.854.2500.