Celebrating, Advancing and Sharing Wisconsin's Conservation Legacy
William G. (Bill) Lunney
William (Bill) G. Lunney
1941 – 2026
Inducted 2026
“A park is not just a piece of land, it is a vibrant part of a community; it is a source of pride and a place for people to reconnect with the natural beauty around us.“ –Bill Lunney
William G. Lunney has embodied a lifetime of service to the public and to the conservation of Wisconsin’s lands,
waters and wildlife. From the first success in 1969 helping to save regionally significant wetlands Dunn’s Marsh
and Upper Mud Lake Wetlands, to the recent creation of the historic multimillion dollar Private Foundation to
support Dane County Parks, Bill has been the energy propelling many local and statewide conservation
successes.
He helped co-found state and local conservation organizations including the Wisconsin Wetlands Association,
Friends of Capital Springs State Recreation Area, Foundation for Dane County Parks, and Groundswell
Conservancy. He served in board leadership roles with Wisconsin Chapter of Nature Conservancy, Natural
Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, Gathering Waters Conservancy.
As Parks Commission Chair for 30 years, he guided Dane County Parks system from 3,500 to 19,000 acres, was
instrumental in supporting state parks and land trusts, helped form the public strategy for re-authorization of
the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program, and protected key conservation areas including Lower Waubesa
Wetlands and Monona Wetlands.
In honor of his innumerable contributions to conservation throughout our state, Bill received myriad
recognition. Dane County dedicated the William G. Lunney Lake Farm Park in his honor, and he received the
State Lifetime Achievement Award from Gathering Waters, Statewide “Friend” Award from the Wisconsin Parks
and Recreation Association, Lifetime Achievement Award from Groundswell.
His indelible impact on conservation by raising public awareness has been celebrated in the words of many
including Howard Mead, former publisher of “Wisconsin Trails,” who said, “Bill is one of the most significant
voices for conservation since Aldo Leopold,” and the Wisconsin State Legislature, which cited “He has had a
profound legacy as conservation leader statewide.” His life and contributions serve as a living embodiment of
Wisconsin’s proud legacy of conservation.
Phelps, Bill, Spencer Black Groundswell Consrvancy event
Norm Anderson and Bill Groundswell Conservancy
Judie, Bill, Karen Oberhauser at Bioblitz in Lunney Lake Farm Park with Friends of Cap Springs
Judie and Bill tree on Gift wall at Lussier Farmily Heritage Center
Bill with award Groundswell Conservancy
Bill appointed to Parks Commission by Jonathan Barry
2025 Bill and Judie with County Exec Melissa Agard 2025
2024 Bill with Caryl Terrell and Judie at Earth Day 2024, Lunney Park
2024 Bill and Judie with Monica Spaeni at AccessAbility WI Event 2024
2023 Bill Quackenbush presents Bill Lunney with a hand carved Ho-Chunk Calendar Stick 2023
2021 Planting of tree in Sun Prairie Thoreau 2021 in honor of Bill and Judie
2021 Bill with Patty Loew at Lunney Lake Farm Park
2019 Last Dane County Commission Meeting Chaired 2019
2019 Judie and Bill speaking at Mad. Community Foundation about parks and environment 2019
2019 bill judie hold hands in prairie in the E-Way at Capital Springs 2019
2019 Bill and Chris James at Fishing Expo 2019 Dane Ccounty Parks promoting accessibility
2018 Bill will Bill the screech owl at Hoos Woods 11-7-18
2017 Friends of Cap Springs Harvest Moon Festival with granddaughter, Ann Marie, 2017
2017 Conservation VotersBill speaking 2017
2017 Bill Ribbon Cutting to open bridge over Lake Waubesa for Lower Yahara River Trail 2017
2016 Madison Community Foundation Article on BIll and Judier 2016
2016 Life Time Achievement Award, Gathering Waters. BIll and his Family 2016
2016 Lakeview Elementary Natural Resources Foundation Basadney check presentation 2016
2016 Gathering Waters Awards Event for BIll Lunney 2016
2016 Bill presenting check from NRF to Madison Audubon 2016
2016 Bill did many Press Conferences with Kathleen Falk 2016
2016 Bill at Press Conference with Parisi and Bill Quackenbush 2016
2016 Bill and National Parks Director 10-10-2016
2016 Bill and Judie Mural at Jenni & Kyle Preserve 2016
2016 At Morton Forest with Parissi and Morton 2016
2015 Patrick Marsh with Senator Miller and Bill's family 2015
2015 Bill's grandchildren at Patrick Marsh Event - Groundswell Conservancy 2015
2015 Bill speaking at Bus Tour of Cap Springs State Rec Area 2015
2015 Bill and Sun Prairie Mayor opening new bike and hiking trail 2015
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2014 Silverwood Co Park - Parks Commisssion 2014 Bill was chair for 30 years
2013 Lake Waubesa Conservation Association Newsletter
2013 Glacier Heritage Area, Bill and Judie with Matt Carlson 8-2013
2012 Bill with Phil Lewis on E-Way Tour 2012
2011 TNC Baraboo Hills 2011
2011 LWCA_Annual_Meeting with Chris Taylor Judie Bill Patrick Miles 2011
2010 Bill Ken LePine Dick Presney Babcok Park 2010
2009 Town of Dunn Award for Bill for Arbor Day 2009
2009 Ice Age Trail with Tammy Baldwin 2009
2009 Bill and Kathleen Falk 2009
2008 Lunney Natural Heritage Land Trust Lifetime Award 5-2008 with Tom Bolger
2008 Bill &Gov Jim Doyle at Mirror Lake Friends of WI State Parks Sept 2008
2007 Devil's_Lake_Friends of WI State Parks , Bill President with 2007 Matt Frank
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2003 Ken LePine, Dane Co. Parks Director Retire 8 03
2003 Bill Al Fish and K Falk raise money for Friends of Cap Springs State Park 2003
2001 Planting of tree in Thoreau Park, Sun Prairie in honor of Bill and Judie 2001
2001 Donor Wall at Lussier Family Heritage Center, County Parks 2001
1996 Judie and Bill member of Lake Waubesa Conservation Association Board fo 20 yrs - Award from Groundswell Conservancy 1996 Stewartship
1996 Bill award and Judie Groundswell Conservancy 1996 Stewartship
1991 Lunney & Gaylord Nelson 1991
1990 Bill, Phelps, Sieling, Dane County Parks 1990
1983 Dick Presney First Dane Co. Parks Director and Bill 1983
1982 County Board Certtificate 1982
1970 Lunney speaks at first Earth Week - 1970
RESOURCES:
2025 RES-429 Dane County WI, County Board Resolution Commemorating former Dane County Board Supervisor and Parks Commissioner William “Bill” George Lunney; April 16, 2026
