As Debbie asked Steve to expand on his thoughts about destination
parks and wild spaces, she has asked me as well. Steve has very
eloquently stated what would be an ideal situation if we were to
create a destination park in Iowa. What I will expand upon is how
"Reality" might bring us in check.
What is a destination park?
It is a park from which people from all across America and the world
would choose as their main objective in their vacation plans. This
is quite a grand scheme. It would be like a Yellowstone, Disneyland,
or Cape Cod. As people head to their destination, they may stop
along their route in various county or state parks, this however does
not keep them long as their main goal is to get to the destination
park at the end of the road.
What could we seriously look for as a destination park in Iowa? As a
newcomer to Iowa I see a limited choice of options. There is the
Lake Okoboji/Spirit, Loess Hills, DeSoto Bend of the Missouri, Neal
Smith Prairie, and Effigy Mounds. All of these could become Natural
wildland Destination Parks. If promoted properly to the citizens of
the state, Iowa could gather the funding and private lands in these
areas and create many wonderful natural places. Places which through
time may evolve into national destination parks. At the outset of
their creation, they would become the premiere parks of Iowa. These
parks could be managed for wildness (not wilderness). Unfortunately
we probably will never be able to achieve a wilderness feel for any
area in Iowa. Prairies and/or Wetlands could be restored. Fences
removed. Native species reintroduced. Roads removed. Etc. What we
could end up with would be comparable with Custer State Park in South
Dakota, Caddo Lake State Park in Texas, or Buffalo River National
Scenic River in Arkansas to name a few.
The process of creating these parks is already in place. First we
must recognize the significance of the natural area. Second, we work
to promote the protection of the place. This has already begun with
the Loess Hills and to a lesser degree the Okoboji region. Third, we
get the state to officially promote and designate the importance of
the land in question. Then fourth, we work to build our vision of
what the park should become. Then with time and the state's travel
commission, it is heralded as a place worthy of visitation.
One process which I feel will help us move toward creating a mindset
with our State leaders is the establishment of natural areas which
are void of mechanical equipment such as snowmobiles, jet skis, and
motorboats. I am in hopes that this idea is starting to take place.
Jetskis are starting to be controled on a few lakes in Iowa.
One step that I feel we can take to help start the "Destination Park"
idea in Iowa is to begin with a push to ban the use of motorized
watercraft and ORV travel in some of our state parks. For example,
In our State House the legislators were considering raising the motor
size limit on MacBride Lake in Johnson County (Iowa City) so that it
matched the rest of the state's lakes. This was fought off by
individuals from Johnson county. MacBride Lake is separated from
Coralville Reservoir only by the thickness of a Dam. Coralville
Reservoir allows all types of motors to be used on its waters.
MacBride limited the size of the motors allowed on the lake and also
limited the use of the motors to no-wake. The lake is used mostly by
people who like to canoe, kayak, and sail. Thus you can see why they
do not want large, noisy motors on this calm lake. My personal
feelings are to ban all motors on Lake MacBride entirely. With
Coralville Reservoir literally a stone's throw away, I think this is
a reasonable desire and goal. Many states in the United States have
lakes that ban motors. Why not here in Iowa as well. This will help
bring us to the creation of other lakes and destination parks
throughout the state.
The creation of Destination Parks will take a long time to achieve.
But what better time to start than when we have a friendly governor
at the helm of the DNR.
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Rex L. Bavousett
Photographer
University of Iowa
Our old name: University Relations - Publications
Our new name: University Communications & Outreach - Publications
100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242
http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
voice: 319 384-0053
fax: 319 384-0055
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