Our Iowa state parks deserve far better

Visit Iowa’s tourism website and you’ll find many images of Iowa’s state parks. Clearly the parks and the outdoor recreation they provide are important elements in Iowa’s sales pitch.

And yet, Iowa’s state parks are far less important at the Statehouse. Our new slogan is “Freedom to Flourish,” but our state parks are not flourishing.

In 2022, park rangers were told they couldn’t live in park housing because the state lacked the funds to repair their homes.

Recently, The Gazette’s Erin Jordan wrote about a report that showed the need for $100 million in park repairs. But Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon did not ask the Legislature for a funding increase needed to address repairs.

This week, Jordan reported that a reorganization plan pushed by Gov. Kim Reynolds will mean state parks will no longer have park rangers. Instead, rangers will be classified as conservation officers assigned to cover one or multiple counties.

We find it difficult to believe that this change will in any way enhance visitors’ experience at state parks. We also question the DNR’s contention that the change won’t affect safety.

Rangers are more than law enforcers. They tend to the park where they spend their working hours, making repairs and overseeing upkeep. They’re educators who often know every inch of the park and its history. And yes, when a party gets out of control, they can intervene.

Under the plan, seasonal workers will be assigned to enforce park rules from April to October after receiving 24 hours of training.

When The Gazette asked for a copy of the plan, the DNR insisted the plan is draft form and is not subject to open meetings law.

The big question is why are park rangers being reorganized? What’s the benefit? The state insists the plan is not being implemented to save costs. OK, so what’s the point?

All this shuffling staff and neglecting needed repairs is occurring while the state sits on billions of surplus dollars that could easily fund park improvements. But the Republican-controlled Legislature would rather use those dollars to cover the cost of tax cuts.

Without additional funding, our state parks will continue to decay. And it won’t be a pretty picture.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com