(Spirit Lake)– It looks like a new pedestrian access will be built into a new state park east of Spirit Lake. The only question is when.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources held a public meeting Wednesday evening with residents of the East Okoboji Beach area regarding the possible construction of a pedestrian walkway from that area into the neighboring Elinor Bedell State Park.
Ron Williams, a local Park Ranger for the D-N-R, says the meeting was the result of many requests received from residents in that area and a petition they presented to the D-N-R about a year ago.
While the majority of East Okoboji Beach residents that spoke at Wednesday’s meeting favored a pedestrian access through their area, they’re concerned that precautions be taken so motorized traffic isn’t allowed on it. They also want something that’s going to look nice, with a barrier such as split-rail fence along both sides of the trail. Any they want the D-N-R to address a drainage problem in the park they say is causing problems on some neighboring property.
One man who lives in the area said he’s concerned over a potential negative impact on land values by having the access trail going through the area.
While the proposed project has the backing of most East Okoboji Beach residents, another hurdle needs to be cleared before it can be built. Williams says a land transaction needs to be worked out with the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District, which owns a small lot through which the trail would pass. Representatives of the Sanitary Sewer District were at Wednesday’s meeting and indicated they’d be more than willing to work out some type of agreement to transfer the lot to the D-N-R.
