In two newspaper articles, one recent, I have seen Mahoney State Park near
Omaha mentioned as a model for the proposed Destination Parks in Iowa.
Below is a friend's description of Mahoney State Park.

***
I have had park service staff from other states comment to me after they have
been there - that "Mahoney is not a state wildlife nature park - it is more
like a city park."  They have definitely lost the "nature' thrill as we
environmentalists like to see it.  I wouldn't think of going there to
experience nature.

People from Omaha go there to "dine" in the evening.  Cabins are
air-conditioned, have telephones, tvs, etc. Not only that, they have now
added the Sac museum with vintage airplanes.  Across the road is the Henry
Doorly Zoo and its wildlife safari experience.  Someplace in the nearby area,
Chip Davis is building an outdoor ampitheater so they can blast music all
over the area!   All this plus a sand volleyball court, mini-golf course,
golf driving range, swimming pool and slide, tennis courts, etc.
***

It is clear that there are widely varying ideas in Iowa of what a
"Destination Park" ought to be.    If in fact Iowa chooses to develop a
"Destination Park" like Mahoney, which also has a theater, computer games,
etc., I hope that it will not be sited in or next to one of Iowa's few wild
areas.   A site near a large population center, just off a freeway (which is
where Mahoney is located) would be much more appropriate.

Cindy Hildebrand
[log in to unmask]
57439 250th St.
Ames, IA  50010
515-232-3807

"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is
the sea.   The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of
wine-stains...And there was so much motion in it;  the whole country seemed,
somehow, to be running."   (Willa Cather)

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