Volunteer

SPPF coordinates volunteer events for members to donate their time and efforts to improve the parks.

Advocate

SPPF is an advocate for planning, growth, ecosystems, and developing the parks.

Raise Funds

SPPF helps fundraise and collect contributions to support the parks.

Birkinbine Park
Sheehan Park Work Day 2024

1365 Linnerud Dr
Wyndham Hills Community Park
Wetmore Park Ice Rink

555 North Street
Wetmore Park
Wetmore Park Pollinator Garden

555 North Street
Renstone Park
Liberty Park 2024 Pollinator Planting

1270 Tara Dr

Board of Directors:

Jonathan Stevens Profile Picture

Jonathan Stevens

Founder, President

Jonathan has been visiting Sun Prairie Parks for over 35 years and enjoys ice skating, canoeing, sledding, snowshoeing, flying kites, climbing trees, bicycling, hammocking, and playing with his daughters in the Sun Prairie parks.

William Dunlop Profile Picture

William Dunlop

Founder, Vice President

Bill and his wife, Amy, have been residents of Sun Prairie for 15 years and have a passion for parks. During his engineering career he has designed parks, bike and pedestrian trails, and natural areas. Bill can be seen running or biking on Sun Prairie’s trail system almost any day of the week or helping Groundswell Conservancy at Patrick Marsh.

Rebecca Timm

Rebecca Timm

Treasurer

Rebecca has lived in Sun Prairie since 2019. Outside her work as a Credit Analyst at the Bank of Sun Prairie, she enjoys reading, walking through the trails in her neighborhood, playing at the Sun Prairie playgrounds with her niece and nephew, and spending time with family and friends.

Erik Naumoff

Erik Naumoff

Founder, Secretary

Moving to Sun Prairie in 2005, Erik has been enjoying the Sun Prairie neighborhood parks as a means of both relaxation and recreation for years. Moreover, for the past 8+ years, he has been frequenting the Sun Prairie Pet Excercise Area on almost a daily basis along with his two dogs, and serving as a staunch advocate for dog park maintenance, enhancements and expansion.

Mark Piela

Mark Piela

Founder, Director At-Large

Mark and his wife, Kate, have called Sun Prairie home for over 35 years. Along with their children, they have explored many of the amenities of the park system. Through the seasons, whether swimming or skating, playing baseball or sledding, biking or cross-country skiing, bird watching or nature hikes…enjoying the outdoors has always been a family favorite.

Theran Stautz

Theran Stautz

Director At-Large

Theran and his family have lived in Sun Prairie since 2015. He enjoys biking in every season, on and off-road, He also likes to kayak, camp, hike, and play frisbee golf and soccer. Theran's work as an ecologist has given him a deep appreciation for natural resources and he is working to improve vegetation and wildlife habitat at the City's Parks.

Tom Jisa

Tom Jisa

Director At-Large

Tom has lived in Sun Prairie since 2016 and values its community. He enjoys giving back through SPPF. Outside of his project management consulting firm, you can find Tom on the local bike trails or at local, county or state parks enjoying the outdoors.

Rich Holsinger

Rich Holsinger

Director At-Large

Rich has been a resident of Sun Prairie for 30+ years and has an extensive background in retail business. He is an avid pickleball player and enjoys the physical, mental, and social aspects of the game. He is a member of the Sun Prairie Pickleball Advisory Group, Sun Prairie Rotary club, and the Friends of the Neighborhood Navigators. He enjoys serving the community.

Erika Mills

Erika Mills

Director At-Large

Erika is a UW-Madison graduate in Environmental Studies and Wildlife Ecology. She is passionate about environmental stewardship and is a Dane County Master Gardener. She frequently participates in Sun Prairie governance and is interested in urban planning. She has two dogs, Sirius & Aludra, who she enjoys all of the beautiful city, county, and state parks with.

  • “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

    John Muir

  • "The measure of any great civilization is its cities and a measure of a city's greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and squares."

    John Ruskin

Beneficiary Designations:

An EASY way to leave your assets to support the Sun Prairie Parks.


Sun Prairie Parks Friends Badge
Grandview Park Playground

Upcoming Events

All Participants Welcome

September 13, 2025 1:30-3:30pm

Thoreau Park - Conservation Landscaping Project

1521 Thoreau Dr
Sun Prairie, WI 53590

Come help us rehabilitate landscaping beds at Thoreau Park! We are converting overgrown, ornamental landscaping beds into conservation landscaping beds full of native plants! The Sun Prairie Park Friends (SPPF) acquired ~250 native plants from the Plant Dane Program and need help planting!

Meet at the park near the park sign at the corner of Leopold Way and Thoreau Dr., bring your own shovel, gloves, and water!

No experience necessary!

Sign up to Attend
September 20, 2025
October 18, 2025
November 15, 2025
December 20, 2025

Invasive Removal Work Days

Join Sun Prairie Park Friends on various environmental stewardship events in city parks in 2025! All equipment and training provided by SPPF. Dress for the weather (wear layers!) and bring your water bottle & work gloves!
3rd Saturday of every month!
September 20, 2025 - 9AM - 11AM Sheehan West (meet in parking lot by Sheehan West Shelter) - Invasive Shrubs
October 18, 2025 - 10AM - 12PM Smith's Crossing - Invasive Shrubs
November 15, 2025 - 10AM - 12PM Smith's Crossing - Invasive Shrubs
December 20,2025 - 10AM - 12PM Smith's Crossing - Invasive Shrubs

Sign up to Attend
Turkey Run Park - October 14, 2025
Glacier Crossing Park- October 16, 2025
Schey Park- October 21, 2025

Community Playground Builds

Help us build playgrounds at Schey, Turkey Run (formerly "little" Carriage Hills), and Glacier Crossing Parks this fall! Sign up here as a volunteer if you are interested, and you will receive more information as the date(s) draw closer! You can sign up for a half day or full day shift. Each playground build runs from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.
No experience necessary!
-TURKEY RUN PARK (formerly "little" Carriage Hills) 901 Woodview Drive: Tuesday, October 14
-GLACIER CROSSING PARK, 645 Granite Way: Thursday, October 16
-SCHEY PARK, 901 Laura Street: Tuesday, October 21
Lunch and water will be provided.

Sign up to help
Fourth Tuesday of the Month

Board Meetings

Various Locations - See Schedule

The Sun Prairie Parks Friends, Inc. Board of Directors meet once a month and welcome member and community input at all meetings. Meetings are typically on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm.

SPPF Meeting Schedule