Rita Thofern, Friends of Willow River & Kinnickinnic State Parks

Willow River State Park has been a vital part of the Hudson community since it officially opened in 1971. Friends of Willow River & Kinnickinnic State Parks was established as a non-profit in 1990 and has helped maintain the park, offered educational programming, staffed the nature center, and more for decades.On this week's episode, we're talking all things Willow River State Park with Rita Thofern, president of Friends of Willow River & Kinnickinnic State Parks. Rita fell in love with the park in the late 1970s after first visiting to cross country ski. She shares more about the work Friends does to maintain the park, discusses the ongoing capital campaign to help raise money for a new and much-needed nature center, and also gives a bit of a lesson on the land of Willow River State Park over its history.Send a message to the hostFollow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.