New parks project announced for northeast Iowa

DES MOINES - Three counties that are home to four state parks in northeast Iowa will serve as the first pilot area for a public-private partnership expected to pump at least $6 million into new amenities and improvements intended to better connect Iowans with outdoor recreational opportunities.

'It's a new dawn for the Iowa parks system,” said Joe Gunderson, president of the Iowa Parks Foundation, in announcing that Dubuque, Jackson and Jones counties were picked among four competing regions that offered long-term strategic plans to revitalize park systems in their parts of Iowa.

Gunderson said the Grant Wood Mississippi River region was selected for its potential for land and water trail development and its plans to expand infrastructure and to improve the structural, economic and community connections for the region's four state parks and scenic byways.

Plans call for a nearly $2 million state appropriation from the Legislature, to be supplemented with contributions from local governments, businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals, equating to a three-to-one match that will be used to revitalize the area.

Larry 'Buck” Koos, a member of the Jackson County Board of Supervisors from Lamont, said the three counties envision a regional plan that includes raising up to $4 million locally in cash, services or land for the effort.

'It touches all three counties, so that's exciting,” said Koos, who attended the Statehouse announcement. 'It's a beautiful place. It's not real well known yet, so there are just endless opportunities out there.”

Some of the money likely will be used to build new cabins at the four state parks and to develop a county-managed wildlife area known as Whitewater Canyon.

'Our partners in the Grant Wood Mississippi River region are very excited about this opportunity to serve as a pilot region,” said David Heiar, director of the Jackson County Economic Alliance and a point person for the regional effort that includes developing donated land near Maquoketa and a white water canyon.

'We are anxious to begin the planning process and, of course, even more enthusiastic about implementing the vision that is created,” Heiar added. 'As a pilot project, we know other regions will be looking to us to set the standards and benchmarks for future projects throughout the state.”

Monday's announcement at a news conference on the west steps of the state Capitol coincided with the arrival of a long-term and sustainable strategy developed by a special panel charged with formulating a 100-year vision for Iowa's state parks system, said Robert Riley, a member of the Green Ribbon Commission, a private board of the Iowa Parks Foundation.

Gov. Terry Branstad said he believed the strategic recommendations can help create a lasting legacy for Iowa. With the approach of the 100th anniversary of the Iowa state parks system in 2020, the governor said he hoped state officials can partner with local communities to create regional projects that will have a positive impact on the health of Iowa's people and its economy.