(Okoboji)– The Dickinson County Conservation Board Wednesday evening approved a revised conceptual plan for Sherwood Forest, a park being developed on the site of the former Inn golf course in Okoboji. The revisions were made after residents living near the site expressed a number of concerns. Lee Sorenson, Executive Director of the Dickinson County Conservation Board, says this new proposal addresses the issues. He says the board was better able to get a handle on them during a recent tour of the site…
“They had some concerns and some considerations to look at but I think the trip to the site, to actually get them out there on the ground, really should the closeness from the houses and the Park View and just the lay of the land. So I think that probably had a large influence, but I think the considerations were already being in place from the first meeting.”
Sorenson says they’re confident they’ll still be able to fulfill their initial goals for the park with the changes…
“The bike experience and the nature play scape and the trail, the bike trail, hiking path, I think it still gives a plethora of entertainment and excitement for people to venture on and I think it does, I think it meets all of our goals.”
He adds this will result in a significant change in the time frame for the project…
“We are hoping to actually have the construction plans by November 1st, and then once we get those plans we can put that out to public bid and of course that depends on the contractors, but we’re hoping by next summer we can start the process of construction.”
Original plans were to begin construction yet this season.
