Blue Mound’s Park Manager Brad Bates recently received the prestigious Legacy Award at the 2024 Wisconsin State Parks Conference. This is awarded to selective individuals in the Wisconsin State Parks System with over 20 years of distinguished service and has shown a long lasting and permanent contribution over the years.
Brad started his fulltime career in July of 2001, after working as an LTE for several years prior. Throughout his career, he has established himself as someone that consistently goes above and beyond as shone by customer, partners and co-worker feedback. A true role model for other park staff, he exhibits a strong customer service skill set that is courteous, pleasant, and true. He maintains a strong positive professional attitude towards customer’s service, which often finds him working well after his shift has ended to meet the expectations of both our internal and external partners as well as our visitors.
Brad’s willingness to help others or take on additional responsibilities throughout his career is one of his most enduring qualities. He has accepted additional workload numerous times as acting property manager through his career, most recently for the Mackenzie Environmental Center. He continues to serve on numerous statewide committees including the Fleet and Interpretive Teams. He serves as district HEO Trainer and often finds himself around the southern part of the state training and certifying others. Brad’s passion and commitment to linear trails is legendary, and he has established himself as one PRM most knowledgeable individuals in operations and maintenance across the state.
Brad’s career has taken him all around the state in many different capacities throughout the years; serving as a Law Enforcement Officer for the WSPS for over 17 years; Park Ranger, Ranger Assistant Property Manager, Park Manager In-Training to Park Manager. He has responded to hundreds of incidents over the years as a First Responder and is accredited to saving one individual having a heart attack. These are just a small list of contributions over his 23 years of service to the WSPS and its visitors.
Congratulations, Brad!
