I have to tell you about when we first heard of Iowa Child in Des Moines.
It must have been about 3 years ago, Ted Townsend came up with his idea of
building the rainforest on the grounds of Wakonda Golf Course.  Of course,
he thought the golf course would give him the land to build his facility.
Then, he would talk Polk County into giving Brown's Woods to Wakonda for
$1.  After all, Brown's Woods was under-utilized.  It would be a win-win
for everyone, especially Ted.

But, the public loves Brown's Woods.  In the early 1970's, the public
convinced the Polk County Conservation Board to buy Brown's Woods, to save
it from logging, development, and destruction by motorcycles.  About 25
years later, the public rose up again and took the woods back from the
mountain bikers (300-500 people attended the board meeting).  Then Ted
Townsend came up with his idea.

Along the way, the DOT or MPO has also drawn a road through the woods on
their planning map.  When do you suppose it will ever end?

Jane Clark
Des Moines
Former Chair, Polk County Conservation Board

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