(Spirit Lake)– The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation continues work on a major project at The Narrows Preserve on East Lake Okoboji. Abby Terpstra, Director of Philanthropy for the foundation, says the restoration of that area is an ongoing process…
“People may have noticed the removal of some trees as we get ready to establish a very diverse prairie. It looks a little rough right now but it’s on its way to being something truly spectacular and that was one of these tremendous community efforts where we really saw the partners in the lakes and the community come together to raise money to keep that shoreline as a natural shoreline on the lake.”
Terpstra add they’re in the process now of raising funds to acquire and preserve another important tract of land in the Iowa Great Lakes…
“It’s right by Arnolds Park, 73 acres. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has secured an option to purchase this property so we’re in fundraising mode right now. We need to show that we can raise the $1.9 million necessary to turn this into a park that is managed by the Dickinson County Conservation Board but owned by the city of Arnolds Park. Again it’s another one of these efforts that has tremendous partners doing what they do best. We’re also very fortunate to have the support of Ducks Unlimited in our fundraising efforts here, so trying to get the word out that this is happening. We have until October 31st to meet our goals through pledges and through cash gifts. And then this park is going to offer the opportunity for the community to have some additional recreation space and a green space, so some mowed trails you can walk through, there’s the possibility of putting in a trail head that’s right by the spine trail, and then there’s also a possibility of putting a paved trail in along the road there, which right now we see pedestrians and bikers using that road, this would be a much safer alternative to have that off road trail that could connect kind of up towards Bridges Bay.”
For more information and to make pledges or donations, go to inhf.org/arnoldspark.
