(Arnolds Park)– Officials with Imagine Iowa Great Lakes announced today (Fri.) a ribbon cutting and dedication for the recently completed renovation of the State Pier will be held at 11:30 am Saturday, September 5th. The iconic lakes area attraction will also officially be named the “Berkley Bedell State Pier” during the event. The Iowa DNR’s Natural Resource Commission voted unanimously in favor of naming the pier in Bedell’s honor at their meeting Thursday.
The 5,500 square foot pedestrian plaza features a large fountain and reflecting pool below three stainless steel sail sculptures along with precast concrete benches, landscape beds and decorative donor pavers surrounded by a custom LED hand rail.
Berkley, who founded what would become Pure Fishing, played an integral role in the 1999 “Save The Park” campaign, which raised $7.25 million dollars to preserve the Arnolds Park Amusement Park.
Bedell passed away December 7th, 2019 at the age of 98.
