Campers and Park Users Benefit from State Park Improvements

DES MOINES - It's the off season in Iowa's state parks and park use is lighter, the campground has fewer guests and the leaves are starting to fall. On the surface everything seems to be slowing down. But work for the 2008 camping and park use season is already underway.

One of the most anticipated projects is underway at the WaShawtee addition in Waubonsie State Park and it just may reshape the outdoor experience in southwest Iowa. The project involves turning the old buildings that were part of the former girl scouts camp into cabins.

"You can sit on your own porch and all you see is prairie and woods," said Angela Corio, landscape architect for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "It's your own little piece of heaven."

The cabins, named Infirmary, Lane Lodge, Kahiga Cabin, Shagbark Cabin, Hideway, Cooks Cabin and Mischanaka, are located along a ridge top offering secluded, scenic views of the Loess Hills. Many of the cabins have stone fireplaces, covered decks, individual fire rings and private privies. Cabins will sleep anywhere from four to 10 people and will eventually be available for reservation through the DNR website. Once all are completed, there will be five camping cabins and five family cabins. Rents will range from $35 on up to $125 per night and some will be open all year.

"We have two camping cabins completed which are available to rent right now, and would be excellent cabins for hunters wanting the solitary experience during our upcoming seasons," Corio said.

While the cabin renovations are exciting for the future, other projects completed in 2007 had immediate and major impacts on park use and enjoyment as well.

Campgrounds in Prairie Rose and Black Hawk state parks underwent major facelifts last spring and were re-opened for use mid-summer.

The Prairie Rose project included replacing the old water distribution system, upgrading 61 existing electrical campsites to 50 amp service, converting 16 non-electric campsites to 50 amp electric sites, and adding seven sites that will offer full hook ups, which includes water, sewer and electricity.

"We added rock covered living spaces and new fire rings to all 77 of the camping pads," Corio said.

Another project at Prairie Rose soon to be underway will install a new road near the campground where camping cabins will be constructed this winter. The road project is estimated at $154,866. The DNR is partnering with the Friends of Prairie Rose to fund the cabin project.

The DNR invested $200,000 to renovate and upgrade the 30-acre campground at Black Hawk State Park which changed the face of the campground. The upgrade increased the size of the individual campsites and increased the number of electrical sites from 68 to 89, with each site now offering 50 amp electrical service. Of those 89 sites, 11 are pull-through and have individual water hydrants as well as new electrical service.

The project did reduce the overall number of campsites from 176 to 128, but the campground now has a more spacious feel to it. The additional room between campsites allows for larger vehicles with camper slide-outs. All 89 electrical sites have crushed stone surface.

The project included a new campground water distribution system and new fire rings to each campsites, replacing the existing water hydrants and added two new drinking water fountains at the shower building.

Other projects included wastewater system improvements at Lacey Keosauqua, Lake Darling, Pleasant Creek and Big Creek, a de-ironing silt basin and new drinking water system at Wilson Island and a drinking water system upgrade at Springbrook. Stone State Park was closed during all of 2007 for a new shower building and the upgrade of the electrical and wastewater systems.

Trails received much needed work at Pine Lake, Pleasant Creek, and Ledges including the ADA trail at the Ledge's Lost Lake. The flood and silt damage at Dance Hall Cave in Maquoketa State Park on July 3 was cleared of debris, although the lighting has yet to be restored.

New playgrounds were installed at Brushy Creek and Lake Macbride and one will open in the spring of 2008 at Beeds Lake.

A four-season lodge with indoor seating for 200, plus a covered outdoor patio that can seat an additional 50 is currently under construction at Lake Darling State Park, as part of a larger beach development. The beach complex will also feature a playground, beach shelter and a beach restroom close to the water. All facilities in the complex will be connected with a universally accessible sidewalk.

The Friends of Lake Darling raised nearly $900,000 through a grant, donations from local communities, individual private donations, volunteer labor, special fundraising events, and a state appropriation. The DNR added $100,000.

Geode will soon have a combination open air shelter-restroom building with an enclosed kitchenette under construction. A park road replacement project is nearing completion. A large playground will also be constructed on the beach that will emphasize universally accessible play elements.

An open air shelter was installed near the playground at Elk Rock, which was paid for by funds raised locally, and the local friends group at Nine Eagles installed a new shelter in the equestrian campground.

Improvements coming in 2008 include replacing the sewer lines at Clear Lake State Park; Bellevue and AA Call will receive new drinking water systems. Green Valley will see a major redevelopment. The lake will be lowered and fish population renovated, the electrical system will be upgraded, the shower building will be replaced and a pit toilet for winter camping will be constructed. Anglers at Summerset State Park will enjoy the benefits of a shoreline trail enhancement project set for 2008.

The long awaited development of a campground at Volga, Iowa's second largest recreation area, is coming Spring 2008. Construction will include a sewage treatment facility, a new well and electrical service. Drinking water will then be available at the boat ramp and lakeshore picnic shelter as well as in the new campground. After this $750,000 initial phase, the utilities will be completed and the campground will be available for non-modern camping mid-summer. The next phase will include a shower building, restrooms and children's playground.