Three County Parks Recognized by Friends Groups

Three Door County state parks were recognized in public voting in the 2013 Gold Seal Awards, sponsored by the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks.

Categories for the Gold Seal Awards change each year based on topics nominated by the more than 80 friends groups around the state that are part of the umbrella organization.

“A record number of votes were cast by the public for this year’s Gold Seal Awards,” said Patty Loosen, Wisconsin state park friends group coordinator.

The winning state parks in Door County and their categories are:

Best View from a Tower: Peninsula State Park

Best Place for Dog Walking: Whitefish Dunes State Park

Best Friends Group Website: Newport Wilderness Society

Parks winning in seven other categories were:

Best RV Camping: Governor Dodge State Park, near Dodgeville, Iowa County.

Best Place to Explore Nature: Richard Bong State Recreation Area, in Brighton, Kenosha County.

Best Historical Restoration Project: Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Fort Howard Guard House project, Green Bay.

Best Informational Kiosk: Stower Seven Lakes State Trail, St. Croix Falls, Polk County.

Most Challenging Hiking Trail: Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake unit, trail to Tower, Hartford, Washington County.

Best Place to Hold a Family Reunion: Wyalusing State Park, Grant County.

Best Place to Hear an Owl: Governor Thompson State Park, Marinette County.