As we step into 2026, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks enters a milestone year—our 30th anniversary—with a clear sense of purpose and urgency. The year ahead will be busy, exciting, and filled with meaningful work as we elevate strong voices, deepen partnerships, and advocate fiercely for the outdoor places that define Wisconsin.
This is a year when friendship must turn into action.
Defending a Legacy: Reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
One of the most critical priorities at the start of 2026 is advocating for the reauthorization of the Knowles‑Nelson Stewardship Program. This bipartisan program—set to expire in July 2026—has been a cornerstone of conservation in Wisconsin since its creation in 1989.
Over the past three decades, Knowles-Nelson has supported more than 5,700 projects in Wisconsin Parks, Trails, and Recreation Areas, helping protect public lands, expand recreational opportunities, preserve wildlife habitat, and strengthen local communities across the state. From state parks and trails to local green spaces, its impact is woven into nearly every corner of Wisconsin.
If this program is allowed to lapse, the consequences will be significant. Public lands would lose one of the most reliable and effective funding mechanisms available—placing additional strain on already underfunded spaces. In 2026, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks will work alongside partners, Friends groups, and supporters statewide to ensure this legacy program continues to serve future generations.
Building the Case for Change: Preparing for the 2027–2029 State Budget
2026 is also a crucial runway year for shaping the 2027–2029 state biennial budget.
The 2025–27 budget did real harm to Wisconsin’s parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas by falling short on capital improvement funding. Today, Wisconsin’s public lands face more than $1.5 billion in deferred maintenance, while staffing shortages and limited operational resources continue to stretch the system thin. User fees alone cannot—and should not—carry the burden of maintaining places that welcome more than 20 million visits each year.
In response, Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is preparing tools, messaging, and advocacy resources to support 65 local Friends groups across the state. These groups are on the front lines—welcoming visitors, maintaining trails, supporting education, and building community pride. In 2026, we will help equip them to be even stronger champions, ensuring legislators understand that investing in parks is an investment in tourism, public health, conservation, and local economies.
Celebrating 30 Years of Friendship with Wisconsin’s Outdoors
This year also marks 30 years of being Wisconsin’s friend to 118 state parks, forests, trails, and recreational areas.
Since our founding in 1996, our mission has remained simple and powerful: to connect people to Wisconsin’s beautiful outdoor spaces that make the state special. Over three decades, that mission has grown into a statewide movement of volunteers, advocates, donors, educators, and everyday park lovers who believe these places matter.
Throughout 2026, we look forward to sharing special announcements, events, partnerships, and stories that celebrate this milestone. More than a look back, our anniversary is a call forward—an invitation for everyone to see themselves as a Friend of Wisconsin, connected to the lands that shape our memories, communities, and sense of home.
Moving Forward—Together
The year ahead will demand hard work, collaboration, and courage. But it will also be filled with hope, celebration, and shared purpose. We cannot do this work without one another—and we are grateful for every voice that speaks up, every hand that volunteers, and every heart that believes in these places.
As 2026 unfolds, we hope your relationship with Wisconsin’s outdoor spaces continues to grow stronger and fonder. Together, we can ensure they remain wild, welcoming, and cherished for generations to come.
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