Schmelzer takes over as DNR’s state park director

Steven Schmelzer is the DNR’s new parks director, who started his new role July 19. Managed by the DNR, the Wisconsin State Park system boasts 49 state parks, more than 500 boat launches, 15 state forests, 44 state biking trails, over 5,000 campsites, plus thousands of acres for adventures.

The DNR has logged more than 9.6 million visits to the 49 state parks so far this year – an 18 percent increase over last year, and a 36 percent increase over 2019. As more people connect with Wisconsin’s great outdoors more than ever, Schmelzer is up for the task.

Schmelzer’s 29 years with the DNR, began in 1992, when he served as a park ranger at Devil’s Lake State Park. In 1999, he was promoted to Devil’s Lake State Park assistant park superintendent, then served as the park’s superintendent from 2008-20.

He was selected as a district park supervisor in 2020, to lead the Southwest District, covering eight counties and 18 different properties.

Schmelzer holds a bachelor’s of science degree in natural resources – recreation resource management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a graduate of the DNR Leadership Academy, the Sauk County Institute of Leadership, and he served 14 years in the U.S. Air Force and the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

He and his wife, Julie, live in Baraboo, where they raised their three children. They enjoy many outdoor recreational activities, including biking, trout fishing, hunting, gardening, hiking, and exploring parks and trails across Wisconsin, and the United States.

“I’m very excited to lead the Wisconsin State Parks system and keep it moving it forward,” Schmelzer said. “I look forward to getting out to the properties, and interacting with staff and our partners to make our parks system better than we found it.”