(Arnolds Park)– Time is running out for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to raise $1.9 million to acquire 73 acres of land on the edge of Arnolds Park. As of Thursday (Oct. 23rd) the organization was $65,000 short of it’s goal, and only a week remains to come up with it. Otherwise the land will likely be sold to a developer.
In a recent interview with KUOO news, Heather Jobst of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation told us they have some contingencies in mind should they come up short of the goal…
“Depending on where we’re at with that goal by the time we come to exercise the option, we will really seriously look at how much we still need, might be asking people to maybe make some additional donations or work with the landowner and really see what we can’t do to finish closing that gap and making this happen.”
Jobst says the land is environmentally sensitive as it drains into Lower Gar and Lake Minnewashta.
If the acquisition is successful, the land would be preserved in perpetuity as a natural space with trails and other amenities that would be overseen by the city of Arnolds Park and the Dickinson County Conservation Board.
You can find more information and donate at inhf.org/arnoldspark.
