DOOR COUNTY — A new outdoor educational amphitheater and other improvements are coming to Door County’s Newport after a proposed variance was approved, the Wisconsin DNR announced today.
Located near the tip of the Door County Peninsula, Newport State Park is known for its scenic beauty. The park offers excellent opportunities for night-sky viewing and interpretive programming and is an International Dark Sky Park.
The amphitheater and other improvements would be built in the in the day-use area near Parking Lot 3 on the eastern side of Newport State Park along Newport Bay.
The project would be funded by local partners and include construction of a new 100-seat amphitheater, a storage shed, a low wall to block light pollution from the parking lot, an observation deck, and boardwalk and/or gravel/paved paths to connect new and existing facilities.
The proposed development also includes adding electricity to the site, preferably via installation of a solar
array and battery. Primary use of the electricity would be for use in interpretive programming, temporary
lighting of foot paths at the end of evening events, and charging of equipment (e.g., tracked wheelchair).
Provision of electricity to the existing picnic shelter was previously authorized in the current master plan
but not implemented. This work would be completed with this project as well.
The projects are designed to improve accessibility and safety for park users seeking night sky and nature viewing opportunities and improve the quality of existing educational and recreational programs at the park.
The approved variance can be read online and includes more details about the decision and a summary of public comments. It is also posted on the DNR’s Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Regional Master Plan webpage.
