CONTACTS:
Rachel Garst, Whiterock Outreach Coordinator, [log in to unmask], h/o (712) 651-2015, Liz Garst, Whiterock Conservancy Executive Director,
[log in to unmask], h/o (712) 684-5240; Fred Kirschenmann, Whiterock board chair, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture,  ISU, [log in to unmask], 515-294-5588; Mark Ackelson, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, www.inhf.org, (800) 475-1846 or (515) 288-1846;  Travis Castle, Coon Rapids Development Group, [log in to unmask], h/o (712) 999-4321,
cell (712) 210-3088; Jeff Morgan, Iowa Great Places Press Office, (515) 281-3858, www.iowagreatplaces.gov. 

http://www.whiterockconservancy.org/gp/offer.pdf

http://www.whiterockconservancy.org/gp/projects.pdf

http://www.whiterockconservancy.org/gp/images.pdf
http://www.connrapidsiowa.info

COON RAPIDS-WHITEROCK NAMED AN IOWA "GREAT PLACE"

On October 11, 2005, Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa formally named the City of Coon Rapids, together with the adjoining Whiterock Conservancy, as one of Iowa's first three officially-designated "Great Places."  The other two winners of the title were Clinton and Sioux City, both many times larger than tiny Coon Rapids with its population of just 1,300 people. 

The Coon Rapids-Whiterock team, led by volunteer Whiterock Outreach
Coordinator Rachel Garst, presented an extensive document centered on the following vision: "Within five years, the opening of Whiterock Conservancy, fabulous trail connections, and dozens of creative things to do has made diverse, accessible Coon Rapids the ecotourism hub of Western Iowa."

"Start with a great little town," said Rachel Garst. "Add to that a nature
preserve and research center extending eight miles down a beautiful wooded river valley, plus dozens of creative local eco-businesses, and Coon Rapids is poised to become an authentic rural destination of statewide importance."  She projects that, with state investment, visitors to the area will rapidly increase from 4,000 to 50,000 per year, giving a large boost to the local and regional economy.

Projects for which the team is seeking support include the basic road,
trail, signage and parking infrastructure necessary to open the central
4,300-acre Whiterock land area to the public; a paved four-mile trail
looping between Whiterock and the town of Coon Rapids; watershed protection; environmental inventories; pasture reconfigurations; and protection of rare prairie remnants on the enormous Whiterock land base. 

Another focus is protection of the area's unusually dark skies (and thus
bright stars) by promoting the wide-spread use of capped lighting fixtures. Whiterock currently believes itself to be the darkest spot in Iowa.

Community projects include a world-class corn museum, support for local ecotourism businesses, park developments, connections to regional bike trails, new emergency facilities, a bilingual school-community liaison, more elder-care options, roadwork and streetscaping, promotion of public art, and green planning.

Underpinning the Coon Rapids-Whiterock offer is the philosophy of
"eco-tourism," which holds that if people can find ways to make a living off of their natural resources and traditions, they will have the motivation and ability to protect and preserve their unique environmental and cultural assets.

The Coon Rapids' vision includes dozens of local "eco-entrepreneurs" in
rural tourism businesses such as a blacksmith tour, archery courts, and
field dog trials, as well as the sale of quality locally-produced items
including smoked chicken, honey and candles, organic strawberries, stained glass, rag rugs, quilts, and hand-hewn log benches. 

The aim is for the visitor to the area, no matter what their interests or
abilities, to always find something engaging to do. And the locals, instead of having to commute to Des Moines for jobs, will be able to make a living right in the small town and farmsteads where they prefer to live.

Vilsack's Great Places initiative is designed as a creative challenge to
Iowa's communities. Indeed, so creative is the process that the 146
communities which originally signed up were instructed only to present an undefined "offer" addressing the following Great Place dimensions: "unique sense of place, engaging experiences, rich social fabric, vital economy, pleasing environment, strong foundation, and creative culture." 

There was no standard format, but 73 communities did make it as far as giving a one hour presentation to a team of Citizen Advisory Group judges.  The judges visiting Coon Rapids, among other activities, were driven through the woods on a dirt path and invited to hold and release a live hawk which had been rehabilitated by a local nonprofit, Saving Our Avian Resources.  So impressed were they that one of them chose to give all three of her votes just to Coon Rapids-Whiterock.

The process will also require creativity from the 18 participating state
agencies, which are being challenged to work together to target resources on the three communities selected.  The amount of money currently available, and that which might be appropriated through future legislative processes, is still unclear.

The five-year Coon Rapids-Whiterock Great Places plan totals over $16
million. A big part of that is the cost of proposed regional bike trail
connections. Whiterock board member Mark Ackelson says "Bike trails
supported with amenities definitely contribute to economic development and there is hard data to prove it. It will be good news when our elected
officials recognize their importance to communities and expand support for these investments."

Travis Castle, president of the Coon Rapids Development Group, adds "Whether or not we get all the funding requested, the process was still more than worthwhile. It allowed Coon Rapids to forge a new development vision built around the huge new asset of Whiterock Conservancy. We are thrilled to be selected, and we aim to make Iowa proud."  

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