Accomplishments
Learn how Friend funding helps Devil’s Lake State Park create a successful experience for visitors and staff.
How Friends Dollars Support Devil’s Lake
Over the years, Friends members and volunteers have contributed to many valuable efforts, including events, staffing, facilities repairs and capital improvement projects. Some of the more regular contributions include monies toward:
Hosting special events, such as the Halloween Candlelight hike and Summer Concert Series, or Voyageur Fur Trade Encampment
Building and installing Memorial Benches, placed on trails throughout the Park
Planting trees (always beautiful and helpful!) and maintaining trails (a constant need!)
Staffing supplemental help in the Nature Center and Visitor Center
Supporting nature center programming, and purchase of supplies
Repairs and Capital Improvements
Many members want to get a firm idea of where Friends dollars go to help and support Devil’s Lake State Park. The below chart details specific purchases and efforts from the Heritage Funds from 2015 - 2023, which is just one way in which we support the Park. The chart illustrates a typical mix of repairs, improvements, and Park staff benefits Friends money goes toward in a given year.
For more detail, see the compilation of Friends donations from 1997 - 2023.
Year & Donations
Examples of improvement & repair projects funded by Friends donations.
2023
$32,200
Park Events and Programming Hosted by Friends and Park’s Nature Center
Marketing: Social Media and Website Updates
Assist with Park Operations and Maintenance Costs
2022
$5,300
Interpretive Signage
Park Events
Miscellaneous Park Expenses
2018
$11,600
Scenic viewer repairs
Chamber of Commerce memberships
Bathroom improvements to Headquarters and Rock Elm Shelter buildings
Replace picnic table boards
Employee & Volunteer of the Year plaques
Maintenance tools
Campground host campsite improvements
2017
$8,450
Employee & Volunteer of the Year plaques
Employee summer picnic
Purchase staff radios
Purchase additional picnic grills
Install bathroom privacy screens
Spading trees
Replace tables and chairs in Red Oak shelter
2016
$13,600
Employee & Volunteer of the Year plaques
Annual meeting for Friends, Park staff and Concession Corporation
Carpet cleaning
Tree spading
Internship funding
Purchase emergency phone
Purchase lake buoys
Replace public bathroom lights on Headquarters building
Improvements to campground host campsite
2015
$10,780
Repair and parts for UTV, mower, and other small engine projects
Pesticides to protect Park trees against Emerald Ash Borer pesticide
Snowshoes to loan to Park visitors
iPads, sensors, and bat demo equipment for Nature Center
Purchase vault toilet blower motors
Repairs to Red Oak shelter
Supplies for blacktop trail paving repairs