MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission sticker has a new, creative look for 2023 thanks to Brookfield East High School senior Brooke Salomone.
Salomone was announced as the winner of the 2023 sticker design contest by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday. Winners of the contest get their design printed on the annual state park and forest vehicle admission stickers.
Tied together with a compass, Salomone’s design features different Wisconsin state park recreational themes.
More than 500,000 vehicles will display the design next year.
“Brooke’s creative design incorporates wildlife, recreation, water and open space, all of which are elements of the Wisconsin State Park System from north to south, east to west and everywhere in between,” said Steve Schmelzer, Wisconsin State Park system director.
As a part of her win, Salomone will receive an engraved plaque and in December, a 2023 annual vehicle admission sticker with her design, which was selected from 250 entries.
The annual DNR-sponsored design contest is open every year to artwork submissions from high school students attending public, private or parochial Wisconsin schools, including home-schools. This was the 32nd year of the contest.
Evan Saunders of Waupaca High School was the runner-up to Salomone. That design featured a bicycle in the woods. Coming in third was a design from South Milwaukee High School student Yushan Zeng; It featured a parent and baby fox.
You can view all winning sticker designs from the previous year here.
With a vehicle admission sticker, individuals get access to more than 60 state park, forest and recreation areas across Wisconsin. The stickers are required for any drivers entering the parks.
Wisconsin residents can purchase an annual sticker for $28, while non-residents can get one for $38.
Entries from students for the 2024 sticker design contest are now open and will run through April 30, 2023. Contest guidelines can be found on the DNR website.