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 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]